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Western Midstream Partners, LP - Quarter Report: 2019 September (Form 10-Q)


UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
  
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2019
 
Or 
  
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  
For the transition period from             to       
 
WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Commission file number:
State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization:
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.:
Western Midstream Partners, LP
001-35753
Delaware
46-0967367
Western Midstream Operating, LP
001-34046
Delaware
26-1075808
 
Address of principal executive offices:
Zip Code:
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
Former Name:
Western Midstream Partners, LP
1201 Lake Robbins Drive
The Woodlands,
Texas
77380
(832)
636-6000
Western Gas Equity Partners, LP
Western Midstream Operating, LP
1201 Lake Robbins Drive
The Woodlands,
Texas
77380
(832)
636-6000
Western Gas Partners, LP

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class
Trading symbol
Name of exchange
on which registered
Common units outstanding as of October 30, 2019:
Western Midstream Partners, LP
Common units
WES
New York Stock Exchange
453,032,050
Western Midstream Operating, LP
None
None
None
None
     
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Western Midstream Partners, LP
Yes
þ
No
¨
Western Midstream Operating, LP
Yes
þ
No
¨
     
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Western Midstream Partners, LP
Yes
þ
No
¨
Western Midstream Operating, LP
Yes
þ
No
¨
     



Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Western Midstream Partners, LP
Large Accelerated Filer
Accelerated Filer
Non-accelerated Filer
Smaller Reporting Company
Emerging Growth Company
þ
¨
¨
Western Midstream Operating, LP
Large Accelerated Filer
Accelerated Filer
Non-accelerated Filer
Smaller Reporting Company
Emerging Growth Company
þ
¨
¨
     
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
Western Midstream Partners, LP
¨
Western Midstream Operating, LP
¨
     
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Western Midstream Partners, LP
Yes
No
þ
Western Midstream Operating, LP
Yes
No
þ



FILING FORMAT

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q is a combined report being filed by two separate registrants: Western Midstream Partners, LP and Western Midstream Operating, LP. Western Midstream Operating, LP is a consolidated subsidiary of Western Midstream Partners, LP that has publicly traded debt, but does not have any publicly traded equity securities. Information contained herein related to any individual registrant is filed by such registrant solely on its own behalf. Each registrant makes no representation as to information relating exclusively to the other registrant.

Part I, Item 1 of this quarterly report includes separate financial statements (i.e., consolidated statements of operations, consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of equity and partners’ capital, and consolidated statements of cash flows) for Western Midstream Partners, LP and Western Midstream Operating, LP. The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which are included under Part I, Item 1 of this quarterly report, and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, which is included under Part I, Item 2 of this quarterly report, are presented on a combined basis for each registrant, with any material differences between the registrants disclosed separately.




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

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COMMONLY USED TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

Unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” “WES,” “the Partnership,” or “Western Midstream Partners, LP” refer to Western Midstream Partners, LP (formerly Western Gas Equity Partners, LP) and its subsidiaries. As used in this Form 10-Q, the terms and definitions below have the following meanings:
Affiliates: Subsidiaries of Occidental, excluding us, but including equity interests in Fort Union, White Cliffs, Rendezvous, the Mont Belvieu JV, TEP, TEG, FRP, Whitethorn LLC, Cactus II, Saddlehorn, Panola, Mi Vida, Ranch Westex, and Red Bluff Express.
AMA: The Anadarko Midstream Assets, which are comprised of the Wattenberg processing plant, Wamsutter pipeline, DJ Basin oil system, DBM oil system, APC water systems, the 20% interest in Saddlehorn, the 15% interest in Panola, the 50% interest in Mi Vida, and the 50% interest in Ranch Westex.
AMH: APC Midstream Holdings, LLC.
Anadarko or APC: Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries, excluding us and the general partner, which became a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental upon closing of the Occidental Merger on August 8, 2019.
Barrel or Bbl: 42 U.S. gallons measured at 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Bbls/d: Barrels per day.
Board of Directors: The board of directors of WES’s general partner.
Btu: British thermal unit; the approximate amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
Cactus II: Cactus II Pipeline LLC.
Chipeta: Chipeta Processing, LLC.
Condensate: A natural gas liquid with a low vapor pressure mainly composed of propane, butane, pentane, and heavier hydrocarbon fractions.
Cryogenic: The process by which liquefied gases are used to bring natural gas volumes to very low temperatures (below approximately -238 degrees Fahrenheit) to separate natural gas liquids from natural gas. Through cryogenic processing, more natural gas liquids are extracted as compared to traditional refrigeration methods.
DBM: Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC.
DBM water systems: The produced-water gathering and disposal systems in West Texas, including the APC water systems acquired as part of the acquisition of AMA.
DJ Basin complex: The Platte Valley system, Wattenberg system, Lancaster plant, and Wattenberg processing plant (acquired as part of the acquisition of AMA).
EBITDA: Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. For a definition of “Adjusted EBITDA,” see Key Performance Metrics under Part I, Item 2 of this Form 10-Q.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Fort Union: Fort Union Gas Gathering, LLC.
Fractionation: The process of applying various levels of high pressure and low temperature to separate a stream of natural gas liquids into ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane, and natural gasoline for end-use sale.
FRP: Front Range Pipeline LLC.
GAAP: Generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

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General partner: Western Midstream Holdings, LLC, the general partner of the Partnership.
Hydraulic fracturing: The injection of fluids into the wellbore to create fractures in rock formations, stimulating the production of oil or gas.
IDRs: Incentive distribution rights.
Imbalance: Imbalances result from (i) differences between gas and NGLs volumes nominated by customers and gas and NGLs volumes received from those customers and (ii) differences between gas and NGLs volumes received from customers and gas and NGLs volumes delivered to those customers.
IPO: Initial public offering.
LIBOR: London Interbank Offered Rate.
Marcellus Interest: The 33.75% interest in the Larry’s Creek, Seely, and Warrensville gas gathering systems and related facilities located in northern Pennsylvania.
MBbls/d: Thousand barrels per day.
Mcf: Thousand cubic feet.
Merger: The merger of Clarity Merger Sub, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership, with and into WES Operating, with WES Operating continuing as the surviving entity and a subsidiary of the Partnership, which closed on February 28, 2019.
Merger Agreement: The Contribution Agreement and Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated November 7, 2018, by and among the Partnership, WES Operating, Anadarko, and certain of their affiliates, pursuant to which the parties thereto agreed to effect the Merger and certain other transactions.
MGR: Mountain Gas Resources, LLC.
MGR assets: The Red Desert complex and the Granger straddle plant.
Mi Vida: Mi Vida JV LLC.
MMBtu: Million British thermal units.
MMcf: Million cubic feet.
MMcf/d: Million cubic feet per day.
Mont Belvieu JV: Enterprise EF78 LLC.
Natural gas liquid(s) or NGL(s): The combination of ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane, and natural gasolines that, when removed from natural gas, become liquid under various levels of high pressure and low temperature.
NYSE: New York Stock Exchange.
Occidental: Occidental Petroleum Corporation and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries, excluding us and our general partner.
Occidental Merger: Occidental’s acquisition by merger of Anadarko pursuant to the Occidental Merger Agreement, which closed on August 8, 2019.
Occidental Merger Agreement: Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 9, 2019, by and among Occidental, Baseball Merger Sub 1, Inc., and Anadarko.
Panola: Panola Pipeline Company, LLC.

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Table of Contents

Produced water: Byproduct associated with the production of crude oil and natural gas that often contains a number of dissolved solids and other materials found in oil and gas reservoirs.
Ranch Westex: Ranch Westex JV LLC.
RCF: WES Operating’s $2.0 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility that matures in February 2024.
Red Bluff Express: Red Bluff Express Pipeline, LLC.
Red Desert complex: The Patrick Draw processing plant, the Red Desert processing plant, associated gathering lines, and related facilities.
Rendezvous: Rendezvous Gas Services, LLC.
Residue: The natural gas remaining after the unprocessed natural gas stream has been processed or treated.
ROTF: Regional oil treating facility.
Saddlehorn: Saddlehorn Pipeline Company, LLC.
SEC: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Springfield system: The Springfield gas gathering system and Springfield oil gathering system.
TEFR Interests: The interests in TEP, TEG, and FRP.
TEG: Texas Express Gathering LLC.
TEP: Texas Express Pipeline LLC.
Term loan facility: WES Operating’s senior unsecured credit facility entered into in connection with the Merger.
WES Operating: Western Midstream Operating, LP, formerly known as Western Gas Partners, LP, and its subsidiaries.
WES Operating GP: Western Midstream Operating GP, LLC, the general partner of WES Operating and a wholly owned subsidiary of WES.
West Texas complex: The DBM complex and DBJV and Haley systems, all of which were combined into a single complex effective January 1, 2018.
WGP RCF: The senior secured revolving credit facility of Western Midstream Partners, LP (formerly Western Gas Equity Partners, LP) that matured in March 2019.
White Cliffs: White Cliffs Pipeline, LLC.
Whitethorn LLC: Whitethorn Pipeline Company LLC.


6

Table of Contents

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

Item 1.  Financial Statements

WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except per-unit amounts
 
2019
 
2018 (1)
 
2019
 
2018 (1)
Revenues and other – affiliates
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service revenues – fee based
 
$
360,011

 
$
277,923

 
$
1,030,137

 
$
734,473

Service revenues – product based
 
84

 
881

 
2,070

 
2,050

Product sales
 
38,658

 
71,487

 
130,167

 
188,488

Total revenues and other – affiliates
 
398,753

 
350,291

 
1,162,374

 
925,011

Revenues and other – third parties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service revenues – fee based
 
227,954

 
208,406

 
731,346

 
577,490

Service revenues – product based
 
9,392

 
22,455

 
43,460

 
67,371

Product sales
 
29,590

 
5,512

 
84,683

 
35,451

Other
 
338

 
1,236

 
1,101

 
1,709

Total revenues and other – third parties
 
267,274

 
237,609

 
860,590

 
682,021

Total revenues and other
 
666,027

 
587,900

 
2,022,964

 
1,607,032

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
53,893

 
54,215

 
175,483

 
133,874

Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of product (2)
 
97,800

 
101,035

 
334,740

 
291,009

Operation and maintenance (2)
 
176,572

 
129,042

 
467,832

 
338,626

General and administrative (2)
 
30,769

 
16,022

 
83,640

 
47,448

Property and other taxes
 
15,281

 
13,146

 
45,848

 
41,496

Depreciation and amortization
 
127,914

 
97,479

 
362,977

 
270,757

Impairments
 
3,107

 
27,902

 
4,294

 
155,286

Total operating expenses
 
451,443

 
384,626

 
1,299,331

 
1,144,622

Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net
 
248

 
65

 
(1,403
)
 
351

Operating income (loss)
 
268,725

 
257,554

 
897,713

 
596,635

Interest income – affiliates
 
4,225

 
4,225

 
12,675

 
12,675

Interest expense (3)
 
(78,524
)
 
(48,869
)
 
(223,872
)
 
(129,129
)
Other income (expense), net
 
(67,894
)
 
655

 
(161,577
)
 
2,749

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
126,532

 
213,565

 
524,939

 
482,930

Income tax expense (benefit)
 
1,309

 
15,005

 
12,679

 
36,193

Net income (loss)
 
125,223

 
198,560

 
512,260

 
446,737

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
4,006

 
47,203

 
102,789

 
63,669

Net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP
 
$
121,217

 
$
151,357

 
$
409,471

 
$
383,068

Limited partners’ interest in net income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP
 
$
121,217

 
$
151,357

 
$
409,471

 
$
383,068

Pre-acquisition net (income) loss allocated to Anadarko
 

 
(43,883
)
 
(29,279
)
 
(107,009
)
Limited partners’ interest in net income (loss)
 
121,217


107,474

 
380,192

 
276,059

Net income (loss) per common unit – basic and diluted
 
$
0.27

 
$
0.49

 
$
0.94

 
$
1.26

Weighted-average common units outstanding – basic and diluted
 
453,021

 
218,938

 
402,421

 
218,935

 
(1) 
Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to AMA. See Note 1 and Note 3.
(2) 
Cost of product includes product purchases from affiliates (as defined in Note 1) of $61.1 million and $185.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $39.7 million and $112.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. Operation and maintenance includes charges from affiliates of $39.5 million and $110.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $29.8 million and $79.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. General and administrative includes charges from affiliates of $27.7 million and $73.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $12.6 million and $37.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. See Note 6.
(3) 
Includes affiliate amounts of $0.06 million and $1.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $2.0 million and $4.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. See Note 1 and Note 10.


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
thousands except number of units
 
September 30, 
 2019
 
December 31, 
 2018
(1)
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
117,430

 
$
92,142

Accounts receivable, net (2)
 
232,818

 
221,164

Other current assets (3)
 
42,990

 
31,458

Total current assets
 
393,238

 
344,764

Note receivable – Anadarko
 
260,000

 
260,000

Property, plant, and equipment
 
 
 
 
Cost
 
12,109,923

 
11,258,773

Less accumulated depreciation
 
3,176,089

 
2,848,420

Net property, plant, and equipment
 
8,933,834

 
8,410,353

Goodwill
 
445,800

 
445,800

Other intangible assets
 
817,395

 
841,408

Equity investments
 
1,264,695

 
1,092,088

Other assets (4)
 
63,263

 
62,792

Total assets
 
$
12,178,225

 
$
11,457,205

LIABILITIES, EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 
 
 
 
Accounts and imbalance payables
 
$
273,579

 
$
443,343

Short-term debt (5)
 
8,128

 
28,000

Accrued ad valorem taxes
 
45,771

 
36,986

Accrued liabilities
 
269,394

 
129,148

Total current liabilities
 
596,872

 
637,477

Long-term liabilities
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
 
7,730,502

 
4,787,381

APCWH Note Payable (6)
 

 
427,493

Deferred income taxes
 
17,890

 
280,017

Asset retirement obligations
 
319,178

 
300,024

Other liabilities (7)
 
178,708

 
132,130

Total long-term liabilities
 
8,246,278

 
5,927,045

Total liabilities
 
8,843,150

 
6,564,522

Equity and partners’ capital
 
 
 
 
Common units (453,032,050 and 218,937,797 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively)
 
3,182,917

 
951,888

Net investment by Anadarko
 

 
1,388,018

Total partners’ capital
 
3,182,917

 
2,339,906

Noncontrolling interests
 
152,158

 
2,552,777

Total equity and partners’ capital
 
3,335,075

 
4,892,683

Total liabilities, equity and partners’ capital
 
$
12,178,225

 
$
11,457,205

(1) 
Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to AMA. See Note 1 and Note 3.
(2) 
Accounts receivable, net includes amounts receivable from affiliates (as defined in Note 1) of $91.9 million and $72.6 million as of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively.
(3) 
Other current assets includes affiliate amounts of $0.8 million and $3.7 million as of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively.
(4) 
Other assets includes affiliate amounts of $44.3 million and $42.2 million as of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively. Other assets also includes $3.6 million and $5.3 million of NGLs line fill as of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively.
(5) 
As of September 30, 2019, all amounts are considered affiliate. See Note 11.
(6) 
See Note 1 and Note 6.
(7) 
Other liabilities includes affiliate amounts of $87.0 million and $47.8 million as of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively.


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Partners’ Capital
 
 
 
 
thousands
 
Net
Investment
by Anadarko
 
Common
Units
 
Noncontrolling
Interests
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2018 (1)
 
$
1,388,018

 
$
951,888

 
$
2,552,777

 
$
4,892,683

Net income (loss)
 
29,116

 
89,544

 
93,319

 
211,979

Cumulative impact of the Merger transactions (2)
 

 
3,169,800

 
(3,169,800
)
 

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko (3)
 

 
7,407

 

 
7,407

WES Operating equity transactions, net (4)
 

 
(752,796
)
 
752,796

 

Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner
 

 

 
(1,935
)
 
(1,935
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners of WES Operating
 

 

 
(100,999
)
 
(100,999
)
Distributions to Partnership unitholders
 

 
(131,910
)
 

 
(131,910
)
Acquisitions from affiliates (5)
 
(2,141,827
)
 
106,856

 
27,470

 
(2,007,501
)
Contributions of equity-based compensation from Anadarko
 

 
1,840

 

 
1,840

Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
451,591

 

 

 
451,591

Adjustments of net deferred tax liabilities
 
273,102

 
(4,375
)
 

 
268,727

Other
 

 
(332
)
 
(9
)
 
(341
)
Balance at March 31, 2019
 
$

 
$
3,437,922

 
$
153,619

 
$
3,591,541

Net income (loss)
 
163

 
169,431

 
5,464

 
175,058

Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner
 

 

 
(1,858
)
 
(1,858
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owner of WES Operating
 

 

 
(5,667
)
 
(5,667
)
Distributions to Partnership unitholders
 

 
(276,324
)
 

 
(276,324
)
Acquisitions from affiliates (5)
 
(5,510
)
 
4,493

 
1,017

 

Contributions of equity-based compensation from Anadarko
 

 
2,768

 

 
2,768

Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
5,347

 

 

 
5,347

Other
 

 
356

 
(11
)
 
345

Balance at June 30, 2019
 
$

 
$
3,338,646

 
$
152,564

 
$
3,491,210

Net income (loss)
 

 
121,217

 
4,006

 
125,223

WES Operating equity transactions, net (4)
 

 
(2,401
)
 
2,401

 

Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner
 

 

 
(1,407
)
 
(1,407
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owner of WES Operating
 

 

 
(5,764
)
 
(5,764
)
Distributions to Partnership unitholders
 

 
(279,959
)
 

 
(279,959
)
Acquisitions from affiliates (5)
 
(1,881
)
 
1,523

 
358

 

Contributions of equity-based compensation from Occidental
 

 
3,355

 

 
3,355

Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
1,881

 

 

 
1,881

Other
 

 
536

 

 
536

Balance at September 30, 2019
 
$

 
$
3,182,917

 
$
152,158

 
$
3,335,075

(1) 
Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to AMA. See Note 1 and Note 3.
(2) 
See Note 1.
(3) 
See Note 6.
(4) 
For the three months ended March 31, 2019, and September 30, 2019, the $752.8 million and $2.4 million decrease to partners’ capital, respectively, together with net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP, totaled $(634.1) million and $118.8 million, respectively.
(5) 
The amounts allocated to common unitholders and noncontrolling interests represent a noncash investing activity related to the assets and liabilities assumed in the AMA acquisition.


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Partners’ Capital
 
 
 
 
thousands
 
Net
Investment
by Anadarko
 
Common
Units
 
Noncontrolling
Interests
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2017 (1)
 
$
1,050,171

 
$
1,061,125

 
$
2,883,754

 
$
4,995,050

Cumulative effect of accounting change
 
629

 
(14,209
)
 
(30,200
)
 
(43,780
)
Net income (loss)
 
30,522

 
101,005

 
49,483

 
181,010

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko (2)
 

 
14,282

 

 
14,282

WES Operating equity transactions, net (3)
 

 
(2,525
)
 
2,525

 

Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner
 

 

 
(3,353
)
 
(3,353
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners of WES Operating
 

 

 
(94,272
)
 
(94,272
)
Distributions to Partnership unitholders
 

 
(120,140
)
 

 
(120,140
)
Contributions of equity-based compensation from Anadarko
 

 
1,470

 

 
1,470

Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
64,251

 

 

 
64,251

Adjustments of net deferred tax liabilities
 
(175
)
 

 

 
(175
)
Other
 

 
58

 
92

 
150

Balance at March 31, 2018 (1)
 
$
1,145,398

 
$
1,041,066

 
$
2,808,029

 
$
4,994,493

Cumulative effect of accounting change
 

 
9

 
21

 
30

Net income (loss)
 
32,604

 
67,580

 
(33,017
)
 
67,167

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko (2)
 

 
13,839

 

 
13,839

WES Operating equity transactions, net (3)
 

 
(4,965
)
 
4,965

 

Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner
 

 

 
(3,068
)
 
(3,068
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners of WES Operating
 

 

 
(95,809
)
 
(95,809
)
Distributions to Partnership unitholders
 

 
(124,518
)
 

 
(124,518
)
Contributions of equity-based compensation from Anadarko
 

 
1,331

 

 
1,331

Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
93,013

 

 

 
93,013

Other
 

 
76

 
116

 
192

Balance at June 30, 2018 (1)
 
$
1,271,015

 
$
994,418

 
$
2,681,237

 
$
4,946,670

Net income (loss)
 
43,883

 
107,474

 
47,203

 
198,560

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko (2)
 

 
12,601

 

 
12,601

WES Operating equity transactions, net (3)
 

 
(7,075
)
 
7,075

 

Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner
 

 

 
(3,025
)
 
(3,025
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners of WES Operating
 

 

 
(97,354
)
 
(97,354
)
Distributions to Partnership unitholders
 

 
(127,531
)
 

 
(127,531
)
Contributions of equity-based compensation from Anadarko
 

 
1,505

 

 
1,505

Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
(530
)
 

 

 
(530
)
Net contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko of other assets
 
58,835

 

 

 
58,835

Other
 

 
16

 
96

 
112

Balance at September 30, 2018 (1)
 
$
1,373,203

 
$
981,408

 
$
2,635,232

 
$
4,989,843

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to AMA. See Note 1 and Note 3.
(2) 
See Note 6.
(3) 
For the three months ended March 31, 2018, June 30, 2018, and September 30, 2018, the $2.5 million, $5.0 million, and $7.1 million decrease to partners’ capital, respectively, together with net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP, totaled $129.0 million, $95.2 million, and $144.3 million, respectively.


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

10

Table of Contents

WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2019
 
2018 (1)
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
512,260

 
$
446,737

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
362,977

 
270,757

Impairments
 
4,294

 
155,286

Non-cash equity-based compensation expense
 
9,489

 
4,834

Deferred income taxes
 
6,601

 
83,295

Accretion and amortization of long-term obligations, net
 
6,499

 
4,659

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
(175,483
)
 
(133,874
)
Distributions from equity investment earnings – affiliates
 
182,337

 
125,834

(Gain) loss on divestiture and other, net
 
1,403

 
(351
)
(Gain) loss on interest-rate swaps
 
162,974

 

Lower of cost or market inventory adjustments
 
236

 
184

Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net
 
(9,750
)
 
(64,853
)
Increase (decrease) in accounts and imbalance payables and accrued liabilities, net
 
(69,390
)
 
61,081

Change in other items, net
 
32,238

 
11,606

Net cash provided by operating activities
 
1,026,685


965,195

Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
 
(947,266
)
 
(1,589,653
)
Acquisitions from affiliates
 
(2,007,501
)
 
(254
)
Acquisitions from third parties
 
(93,303
)
 
(161,858
)
Investments in equity affiliates
 
(108,118
)
 
(67,085
)
Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – affiliates
 
21,203

 
19,816

Proceeds from the sale of assets to third parties
 
342

 
332

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(3,134,643
)

(1,798,702
)
Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
 
Borrowings, net of debt issuance costs (2)
 
3,950,750

 
2,401,097

Repayments of debt (3)
 
(1,467,595
)
 
(1,040,000
)
Increase (decrease) in outstanding checks
 
(9,204
)
 
(2,687
)
Registration expenses related to the issuance of Partnership common units
 
(855
)
 

Distributions to Partnership unitholders (4)
 
(688,193
)
 
(372,189
)
Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner
 
(5,200
)
 
(9,446
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners of WES Operating
 
(112,430
)
 
(287,435
)
Net contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
458,819

 
156,734

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko (4)
 
7,407

 
40,722

Finance lease payments – affiliates
 
(253
)
 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
2,133,246


886,796

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
25,288


53,289

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
92,142

 
79,588

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
117,430


$
132,877

Supplemental disclosures
 
 
 
 
Net distributions to (contributions from) Anadarko of other assets
 
$

 
$
(58,835
)
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest
 
232,147

 
106,538

Taxes paid (reimbursements received)
 
96

 
(87
)
Accrued capital expenditures
 
154,080

 
296,805

(1) 
Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to AMA. See Note 1 and Note 3.
(2) 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, includes $11.0 million and $265.5 million of borrowings, respectively, under the APCWH Note Payable.
(3) 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, includes a $439.6 million repayment to settle the APCWH Note Payable. See Note 6.
(4) 
See Note 6.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

11

Table of Contents

WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except per-unit amounts
 
2019
 
2018 (1)
 
2019
 
2018 (1)
Revenues and other – affiliates
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service revenues – fee based
 
$
360,011

 
$
277,923

 
$
1,030,137

 
$
734,473

Service revenues – product based
 
84

 
881

 
2,070

 
2,050

Product sales
 
38,658

 
71,487

 
130,167

 
188,488

Total revenues and other – affiliates
 
398,753

 
350,291

 
1,162,374

 
925,011

Revenues and other – third parties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service revenues – fee based
 
227,954

 
208,406

 
731,346

 
577,490

Service revenues – product based
 
9,392

 
22,455

 
43,460

 
67,371

Product sales
 
29,590

 
5,512

 
84,683

 
35,451

Other
 
338

 
1,236

 
1,101

 
1,709

Total revenues and other – third parties
 
267,274

 
237,609

 
860,590

 
682,021

Total revenues and other
 
666,027

 
587,900

 
2,022,964

 
1,607,032

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
53,893

 
54,215

 
175,483

 
133,874

Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of product (2)
 
97,800

 
101,035

 
334,740

 
291,009

Operation and maintenance (2)
 
176,572

 
129,042

 
467,832

 
338,626

General and administrative (2)
 
29,072

 
15,331

 
77,733

 
45,229

Property and other taxes
 
15,281

 
13,146

 
45,848

 
41,496

Depreciation and amortization
 
127,914

 
97,479

 
362,977

 
270,757

Impairments
 
3,107

 
27,902

 
4,294

 
155,286

Total operating expenses
 
449,746

 
383,935

 
1,293,424

 
1,142,403

Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net
 
248

 
65

 
(1,403
)
 
351

Operating income (loss)
 
270,422

 
258,245

 
903,620

 
598,854

Interest income – affiliates
 
4,225

 
4,225

 
12,675

 
12,675

Interest expense (3)
 
(78,524
)
 
(48,544
)
 
(223,627
)
 
(127,433
)
Other income (expense), net
 
(67,902
)
 
598

 
(161,648
)
 
2,609

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
128,221

 
214,524

 
531,020

 
486,705

Income tax expense (benefit)
 
1,309

 
15,005

 
12,679

 
36,193

Net income (loss)
 
126,912

 
199,519

 
518,341

 
450,512

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
1,497

 
990

 
5,318

 
6,786

Net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Operating, LP
 
$
125,415

 
$
198,529

 
$
513,023

 
$
443,726

Limited partners’ interest in net income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Operating, LP
 
$
125,415

 
$
198,529

 
$
513,023

 
$
443,726

Pre-acquisition net (income) loss allocated to Anadarko
 

 
(43,883
)
 
(29,279
)
 
(107,009
)
General partner interest in net (income) loss (4)
 

 
(88,551
)
 

 
(256,166
)
Common and Class C limited partners’ interest in net income (loss) (4)
 
125,415

 
66,095

 
483,744

 
80,551

Net income (loss) per common unit – basic and diluted (4)
 
N/A

 
$
0.39

 
N/A

 
$
0.46

 
                                                                                                                                                                                         
(1) 
Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to AMA. See Note 1 and Note 3.
(2) 
Cost of product includes product purchases from affiliates (as defined in Note 1) of $61.1 million and $185.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $39.7 million and $112.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. Operation and maintenance includes charges from affiliates of $39.5 million and $110.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $29.8 million and $79.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. General and administrative includes charges from affiliates of $26.9 million and $71.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $12.4 million and $37.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. See Note 6.
(3) 
Includes affiliate amounts of $0.06 million and $1.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $2.0 million and $4.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. See Note 1 and Note 10.
(4) 
See Note 5 for the calculation of net income (loss) per common unit.


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

12

Table of Contents

WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
thousands except number of units
 
September 30, 
 2019
 
December 31, 
 2018
(1)
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
115,946

 
$
90,448

Accounts receivable, net (2)
 
235,617

 
221,373

Other current assets (3)
 
40,140

 
30,583

Total current assets
 
391,703

 
342,404

Note receivable – Anadarko
 
260,000

 
260,000

Property, plant, and equipment
 
 
 
 
Cost
 
12,109,923

 
11,258,773

Less accumulated depreciation
 
3,176,089

 
2,848,420

Net property, plant, and equipment
 
8,933,834

 
8,410,353

Goodwill
 
445,800

 
445,800

Other intangible assets
 
817,395

 
841,408

Equity investments
 
1,264,695

 
1,092,088

Other assets (4)
 
63,263

 
62,792

Total assets
 
$
12,176,690

 
$
11,454,845

LIABILITIES, EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 
 
 
 
Accounts and imbalance payables
 
$
273,579

 
$
443,343

Short-term debt (5)
 
8,128

 

Accrued ad valorem taxes
 
45,771

 
36,986

Accrued liabilities
 
269,233

 
127,874

Total current liabilities
 
596,711

 
608,203

Long-term liabilities
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
 
7,730,502

 
4,787,381

APCWH Note Payable (6)
 

 
427,493

Deferred income taxes
 
17,890

 
280,017

Asset retirement obligations
 
319,178

 
300,024

Other liabilities (7)
 
178,708

 
132,130

Total long-term liabilities
 
8,246,278

 
5,927,045

Total liabilities
 
8,842,989

 
6,535,248

Equity and partners’ capital
 
 
 
 
Common units (318,675,578 and 152,609,285 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively)
 
3,275,816

 
2,475,540

Class C units (zero and 14,372,665 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively) (8)
 

 
791,410

General partner units (zero and 2,583,068 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively) (8)
 

 
206,862

Net investment by Anadarko
 

 
1,388,018

Total partners’ capital
 
3,275,816

 
4,861,830

Noncontrolling interest
 
57,885

 
57,767

Total equity and partners’ capital
 
3,333,701

 
4,919,597

Total liabilities, equity and partners’ capital
 
$
12,176,690

 
$
11,454,845

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to AMA. See Note 1 and Note 3.
(2) 
Accounts receivable, net includes amounts receivable from affiliates (as defined in Note 1) of $94.7 million and $72.8 million as of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively.
(3) 
Other current assets includes affiliate amounts of $0.8 million and $3.7 million as of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively.
(4) 
Other assets includes affiliate amounts of $44.3 million and $42.2 million as of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively. Other assets also includes $3.6 million and $5.3 million of NGLs line fill as of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively.
(5) 
As of September 30, 2019, all amounts are considered affiliate. See Note 11.
(6) 
See Note 1 and Note 6.
(7) 
Other liabilities includes affiliate amounts of $87.0 million and $47.8 million as of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively.
(8) 
Immediately prior to the closing of the Merger (as defined in Note 1), all outstanding general partner units converted into a non-economic general partner interest in WES Operating and WES Operating common units and all outstanding Class C units converted into WES Operating common units on a one-for-one basis.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

13

Table of Contents

WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Partners’ Capital
 
 
 
 
thousands
 
Net
Investment
by Anadarko
 
Common
Units
 
Class C
Units
 
General
Partner 
Units
 
Noncontrolling
Interest
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2018 (1)
 
$
1,388,018

 
$
2,475,540

 
$
791,410

 
$
206,862

 
$
57,767

 
$
4,919,597

Net income (loss)
 
29,116

 
170,847

 
10,636

 
1,997

 
1,854

 
214,450

Cumulative impact of the Merger transactions (2)
 

 
926,236

 
(802,588
)
 
(123,648
)
 

 

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko (3)
 

 
7,407

 

 

 

 
7,407

Amortization of beneficial conversion feature of Class C units
 

 
(542
)
 
542

 

 

 

Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner
 

 

 

 

 
(1,935
)
 
(1,935
)
Distributions to WES Operating unitholders
 

 
(178,128
)
 

 
(85,230
)
 

 
(263,358
)
Acquisitions from affiliates (4)
 
(2,141,827
)
 
134,326

 

 

 

 
(2,007,501
)
Contributions of equity-based compensation from Anadarko
 

 
1,819

 

 
19

 

 
1,838

Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
451,591

 

 

 

 

 
451,591

Adjustments of net deferred tax liabilities
 
273,102

 
(4,375
)
 

 

 

 
268,727

Other
 

 
268

 

 

 

 
268

Balance at March 31, 2019
 
$

 
$
3,533,398

 
$

 
$

 
$
57,686

 
$
3,591,084

Net income (loss)
 
163

 
174,849

 

 

 
1,967

 
176,979

Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner
 

 

 

 

 
(1,858
)
 
(1,858
)
Distributions to WES Operating unitholders
 

 
(283,271
)
 

 

 

 
(283,271
)
Acquisitions from affiliates (4)
 
(5,510
)
 
5,510

 

 

 

 

Contributions of equity-based compensation from Anadarko
 

 
2,765

 

 

 

 
2,765

Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
5,347

 

 

 

 

 
5,347

Balance at June 30, 2019
 
$

 
$
3,433,251

 
$

 
$

 
$
57,795

 
$
3,491,046

Net income (loss)
 

 
125,415

 

 

 
1,497

 
126,912

Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner
 

 

 

 

 
(1,407
)
 
(1,407
)
Distributions to WES Operating unitholders
 

 
(288,083
)
 

 

 

 
(288,083
)
Acquisitions from affiliates (4)
 
(1,881
)
 
1,881

 

 

 

 

Contributions of equity-based compensation from Occidental
 

 
3,352

 

 

 

 
3,352

Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
1,881

 

 

 

 

 
1,881

Balance at September 30, 2019
 
$

 
$
3,275,816

 
$

 
$

 
$
57,885

 
$
3,333,701

                                                                                                                                                                                   
(1) 
Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to AMA. See Note 1 and Note 3.
(2) 
See Note 1.
(3) 
See Note 6.
(4) 
The amount allocated to common unitholders represents a noncash investing activity related to the assets and liabilities assumed in the AMA acquisition.


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

14

Table of Contents

WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Partners’ Capital
 
 
 
 
thousands
 
Net
Investment
by Anadarko
 
Common
Units
 
Class C
Units
 
General
Partner 
Units
 
Noncontrolling
Interest
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2017 (1)
 
$
1,050,171

 
$
2,950,010

 
$
780,040

 
$
179,232

 
$
61,729

 
$
5,021,182

Cumulative effect of accounting change
 
629

 
(41,135
)
 
(3,536
)
 
(696
)
 
958

 
(43,780
)
Net income (loss)
 
30,522

 
59,133

 
6,791

 
83,439

 
2,985

 
182,870

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko (2)
 

 
14,282

 

 

 

 
14,282

Amortization of beneficial conversion feature of Class C units
 

 
(810
)
 
810

 

 

 

Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner
 

 

 

 

 
(3,353
)
 
(3,353
)
Distributions to WES Operating unitholders
 

 
(140,394
)
 

 
(76,192
)
 

 
(216,586
)
Contributions of equity-based compensation from Anadarko
 

 
1,435

 

 
29

 

 
1,464

Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
64,251

 

 

 

 

 
64,251

Adjustments of net deferred tax liabilities
 
(175
)
 

 

 

 

 
(175
)
Other
 

 
91

 

 

 

 
91

Balance at March 31, 2018 (1)
 
$
1,145,398

 
$
2,842,612

 
$
784,105

 
$
185,812

 
$
62,319

 
$
5,020,246

Cumulative effect of accounting change
 

 
27

 
3

 

 

 
30

Net income (loss)
 
32,604

 
(47,605
)
 
(3,863
)
 
84,176

 
2,811

 
68,123

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko (2)
 

 
13,839

 

 

 

 
13,839

Amortization of beneficial conversion feature of Class C units
 

 
(812
)
 
812

 

 

 

Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner
 

 

 

 

 
(3,068
)
 
(3,068
)
Distributions to WES Operating unitholders
 

 
(142,683
)
 

 
(78,450
)
 

 
(221,133
)
Contributions of equity-based compensation from Anadarko
 

 
1,302

 

 
26

 

 
1,328

Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
93,013

 

 

 

 

 
93,013

Other
 

 
119

 

 

 

 
119

Balance at June 30, 2018 (1)
 
$
1,271,015

 
$
2,666,799

 
$
781,057

 
$
191,564

 
$
62,062

 
$
4,972,497

Net income (loss)
 
43,883

 
60,544

 
5,551

 
88,551

 
990

 
199,519

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko (2)
 

 
12,601

 

 

 

 
12,601

Amortization of beneficial conversion feature of Class C units
 

 
(812
)
 
812

 

 

 

Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner
 

 

 

 

 
(3,025
)
 
(3,025
)
Distributions to WES Operating unitholders
 

 
(144,979
)
 

 
(80,712
)
 

 
(225,691
)
Contributions of equity-based compensation from Anadarko
 

 
1,473

 

 
30

 

 
1,503

Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
(530
)
 

 

 

 

 
(530
)
Net contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko of other assets
 
58,835

 

 

 

 

 
58,835

Other
 

 
93

 

 

 

 
93

Balance at September 30, 2018 (1)
 
$
1,373,203

 
$
2,595,719

 
$
787,420

 
$
199,433

 
$
60,027

 
$
5,015,802

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to AMA. See Note 1 and Note 3.
(2) 
See Note 6.


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

15

Table of Contents

WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2019
 
2018 (1)
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
518,341

 
$
450,512

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
362,977

 
270,757

Impairments
 
4,294

 
155,286

Non-cash equity-based compensation expense
 
8,234

 
4,620

Deferred income taxes
 
6,601

 
83,295

Accretion and amortization of long-term obligations, net
 
6,479

 
3,883

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
(175,483
)
 
(133,874
)
Distributions from equity investment earnings – affiliates
 
182,337

 
125,834

(Gain) loss on divestiture and other, net
 
1,403

 
(351
)
(Gain) loss on interest-rate swaps
 
162,974

 

Lower of cost or market inventory adjustments
 
236

 
184

Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net
 
(12,219
)
 
(64,707
)
Increase (decrease) in accounts and imbalance payables and accrued liabilities, net
 
(68,277
)
 
60,956

Change in other items, net
 
34,232

 
11,143

Net cash provided by operating activities
 
1,032,129

 
967,538

Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
 
(947,266
)
 
(1,589,653
)
Acquisitions from affiliates
 
(2,007,501
)
 
(254
)
Acquisitions from third parties
 
(93,303
)
 
(161,858
)
Investments in equity affiliates
 
(108,118
)
 
(67,085
)
Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – affiliates
 
21,203

 
19,816

Proceeds from the sale of assets to third parties
 
342

 
332

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(3,134,643
)
 
(1,798,702
)
Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
 
Borrowings, net of debt issuance costs (2)
 
3,950,750

 
2,401,105

Repayments of debt (3)
 
(1,439,595
)
 
(1,040,000
)
Increase (decrease) in outstanding checks
 
(9,204
)
 
(2,687
)
Distributions to WES Operating unitholders (4)
 
(834,712
)
 
(663,410
)
Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner
 
(5,200
)
 
(9,446
)
Net contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 
458,819

 
156,734

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko (4)
 
7,407

 
40,722

Finance lease payments – affiliates
 
(253
)
 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
2,128,012

 
883,018

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
25,498

 
51,854

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
90,448

 
78,814

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
115,946

 
$
130,668

Supplemental disclosures
 
 
 
 
Net distributions to (contributions from) Anadarko of other assets
 
$

 
$
(58,835
)
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest
 
231,913

 
105,615

Taxes paid (reimbursements received)
 
96

 
(87
)
Accrued capital expenditures
 
154,080

 
296,805

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to AMA. See Note 1 and Note 3.
(2) 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, includes $11.0 million and $265.5 million of borrowings, respectively, under the APCWH Note Payable.
(3) 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, includes a $439.6 million repayment to settle the APCWH Note Payable. See Note 6.
(4) 
See Note 6.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

16

Table of Contents
WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)


1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

General. Western Midstream Partners, LP (formerly Western Gas Equity Partners, LP) is a Delaware master limited partnership formed in September 2012. Western Midstream Operating, LP (formerly Western Gas Partners, LP, and together with its subsidiaries, “WES Operating”) is a Delaware limited partnership formed by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in 2007 to acquire, own, develop, and operate midstream assets. Western Midstream Partners, LP owns, directly and indirectly, a 98.0% limited partner interest in WES Operating, and directly owns all of the outstanding equity interests of Western Midstream Operating GP, LLC, which holds the entire non-economic general partner interest in WES Operating. “Anadarko” refers to Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries, excluding Western Midstream Partners, LP and Western Midstream Holdings, LLC. Anadarko became a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation as a result of Occidental Petroleum Corporation’s acquisition by merger of Anadarko on August 8, 2019.
For purposes of these consolidated financial statements, the “Partnership” refers to Western Midstream Partners, LP in its individual capacity or to Western Midstream Partners, LP and its subsidiaries, including Western Midstream Operating GP, LLC and WES Operating, as the context requires. “WES Operating GP” refers to Western Midstream Operating GP, LLC, individually as the general partner of WES Operating. The Partnership’s general partner, Western Midstream Holdings, LLC (the “general partner”), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation. “Occidental” refers to Occidental Petroleum Corporation, as the context requires, and its subsidiaries, excluding the Partnership and the general partner, and “affiliates” refers to subsidiaries of Occidental, excluding the Partnership, but including equity interests in Fort Union Gas Gathering, LLC (“Fort Union”), White Cliffs Pipeline, LLC (“White Cliffs”), Rendezvous Gas Services, LLC (“Rendezvous”), Enterprise EF78 LLC (the “Mont Belvieu JV”), Texas Express Pipeline LLC (“TEP”), Texas Express Gathering LLC (“TEG”), Front Range Pipeline LLC (“FRP”), Whitethorn Pipeline Company LLC (“Whitethorn LLC”), Cactus II Pipeline LLC (“Cactus II”), Saddlehorn Pipeline Company, LLC (“Saddlehorn”), Panola Pipeline Company, LLC (“Panola”), Mi Vida JV LLC (“Mi Vida”), Ranch Westex JV LLC (“Ranch Westex”), and Red Bluff Express Pipeline, LLC (“Red Bluff Express”). See Note 3. The interests in TEP, TEG, and FRP are referred to collectively as the “TEFR Interests.” “MGR assets” refers to the Red Desert complex and the Granger straddle plant. The “West Texas complex” refers to the Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC (“DBM”) complex and DBJV and Haley systems.
The Partnership is engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas; gathering, stabilizing, and transporting condensate, natural gas liquids (“NGLs”), and crude oil; and gathering and disposing of produced water. In addition, in its capacity as a natural gas processor, the Partnership buys and sells natural gas, NGLs, and condensate on behalf of itself and as agent for its customers under certain of its contracts. The Partnership provides the above-described midstream services for Occidental and third-party customers. As of September 30, 2019, the Partnership’s assets and investments consisted of the following:
 
 
Wholly
Owned and
Operated
 
Operated
Interests
 
Non-Operated
Interests
 
Equity
Interests
Gathering systems (1)
 
17

 
2

 
3

 
2

Treating facilities
 
35

 
3

 

 
3

Natural gas processing plants/trains
 
24

 
3

 

 
5

NGLs pipelines
 
2

 

 

 
4

Natural gas pipelines
 
5

 

 

 
1

Oil pipelines
 
3

 
1

 

 
3


(1) 
Includes the DBM water systems.

These assets and investments are located in the Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming), North-central Pennsylvania, Texas, and New Mexico.


17

Table of Contents
WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

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

Merger transactions. On February 28, 2019, the Partnership, WES Operating, Anadarko, and certain of their affiliates completed the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement and Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) dated November 7, 2018, pursuant to which, among other things, Clarity Merger Sub, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership, merged with and into WES Operating, with WES Operating continuing as the surviving entity and as a subsidiary of the Partnership (the “Merger”). In connection with the Merger closing, (i) the common units of WES Operating, which previously traded under the symbol “WES,” ceased to trade on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), (ii) the common units of the Partnership, which previously traded under the symbol “WGP,” began to trade on the NYSE under the symbol “WES,” (iii) the Partnership changed its name from Western Gas Equity Partners, LP to Western Midstream Partners, LP, and (iv) WES Operating changed its name from Western Gas Partners, LP to Western Midstream Operating, LP.
The Merger Agreement also provided that the Partnership, WES Operating, and Anadarko cause their respective affiliates to execute the following transactions, among others, immediately prior to the Merger becoming effective in the following order: (1) Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC and WGR Asset Holding Company LLC (“WGRAH”) (the “Contributing Parties”) contribute to WES Operating, and WES Operating subsequently contributes to WGR Operating, LP, Kerr-McGee Gathering LLC, and DBM (each wholly owned by WES Operating), all of their interests in each of Anadarko Wattenberg Oil Complex LLC, Anadarko DJ Oil Pipeline LLC, Anadarko DJ Gas Processing LLC, Wamsutter Pipeline LLC, DBM Oil Services, LLC, Anadarko Pecos Midstream LLC, Anadarko Mi Vida LLC, and APC Water Holdings 1, LLC (“APCWH”) in exchange for aggregate consideration of $1.814 billion of cash, less the outstanding amount payable pursuant to an intercompany note (the “APCWH Note Payable”) assumed by WES Operating in connection with the transfer, and 45,760,201 WES Operating common units; (2) APC Midstream Holdings, LLC (“AMH”) transfers its interests in Saddlehorn and Panola to WES Operating in exchange for $193.9 million of cash; (3) WES Operating contributes cash in an amount equal to the outstanding balance of the APCWH Note Payable immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger to APCWH, which in turn uses the contributed cash to satisfy the APCWH Note Payable to Anadarko; (4) the WES Operating Class C units convert into WES Operating common units on a one-for-one basis; and (5) WES Operating and WES Operating GP convert the incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”) and the 2,583,068 general partner units in WES Operating held by WES Operating GP into a non-economic general partner interest in WES Operating and 105,624,704 WES Operating common units. The 45,760,201 WES Operating common units issued to the Contributing Parties, less 6,375,284 WES Operating common units retained by WGRAH, convert into the right to receive an aggregate of 55,360,984 common units of the Partnership upon Merger completion. Each WES Operating common unit issued and outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Merger (other than WES Operating common units owned by the Partnership and WES Operating GP, and certain common units held by subsidiaries of Anadarko) converts into the right to receive 1.525 common units of the Partnership. See Note 10 for additional information.


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Table of Contents
WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

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

Basis of presentation. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership and entities in which it holds a controlling financial interest, including WES Operating and WES Operating GP. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
The following table outlines the ownership interests and the accounting method of consolidation used in the consolidated financial statements for entities not wholly owned:
 
 
Percentage Interest
Full consolidation
 
 
Chipeta (1)
 
75.00
%
Proportionate consolidation (2)
 
 
Springfield system
 
50.10
%
Marcellus Interest systems
 
33.75
%
Equity investments (3)
 
 
Mi Vida
 
50.00
%
Ranch Westex
 
50.00
%
FRP
 
33.33
%
Red Bluff Express
 
30.00
%
Mont Belvieu JV
 
25.00
%
Rendezvous
 
22.00
%
TEP
 
20.00
%
TEG
 
20.00
%
Whitethorn LLC
 
20.00
%
Saddlehorn
 
20.00
%
Cactus II
 
15.00
%
Panola
 
15.00
%
Fort Union
 
14.81
%
White Cliffs
 
10.00
%
(1) 
The 25% third-party interest in Chipeta Processing LLC (“Chipeta”) is reflected within noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements, in addition to the noncontrolling interests noted below.
(2) 
The Partnership proportionately consolidates its associated share of the assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses attributable to these assets.
(3) 
Investments in non-controlled entities over which the Partnership exercises significant influence are accounted for under the equity method. “Equity investment throughput” refers to the Partnership’s share of average throughput for these investments.

Certain information and note disclosures commonly included in annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the Partnership and WES Operating’s 2018 Forms 10-K, as filed with the SEC on February 20, 2019, certain sections of which were recast to reflect the results attributable to AMA (as defined in Note 3) in the Partnership and WES Operating’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on May 17, 2019.


19

Table of Contents
WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

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

The consolidated financial results of WES Operating are included in the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements. Throughout these notes to consolidated financial statements, and to the extent material, any differences between the consolidated financial results of the Partnership and WES Operating are discussed separately. The Partnership’s consolidated financial statements differ from those of WES Operating primarily as a result of (i) the presentation of noncontrolling interest ownership (see Noncontrolling interests below and Note 5), (ii) the elimination of WES Operating GP’s investment in WES Operating with WES Operating GP’s underlying capital account, (iii) the general and administrative expenses incurred by the Partnership, which are separate from, and in addition to, those incurred by WES Operating, (iv) the inclusion of the impact of Partnership equity balances and Partnership distributions, and (v) the senior secured revolving credit facility (“WGP RCF”) until its repayment in March 2019. See Note 10.

Presentation of the Partnership’s assets. The Partnership’s assets include assets owned and ownership interests accounted for under the equity method by the Partnership, through its partnership interests in WES Operating as of September 30, 2019 (see Note 8). The Partnership owns the entire non-economic general partner interest in and controls WES Operating GP, and the general partner is controlled by Occidental; therefore, the Partnership’s prior asset acquisitions from Anadarko have been classified as transfers of net assets between entities under common control. As such, assets acquired from Anadarko were initially recorded at Anadarko’s historic carrying value, which did not equate to the total acquisition price paid by the Partnership. Further, subsequent to asset acquisitions from Anadarko, the Partnership was required to recast its financial statements to include the activities of acquired assets from the date of common control.
For reporting periods requiring recast, the consolidated financial statements for periods prior to the acquisition of assets from Anadarko are prepared from Anadarko’s historical cost-basis accounts and may not be necessarily indicative of the actual results of operations that would have occurred if the Partnership had owned the assets during the periods reported. Net income (loss) attributable to the assets acquired from Anadarko for periods prior to the Partnership’s acquisition of such assets was not allocated to the limited partners.

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

Noncontrolling interests. For periods subsequent to Merger completion, the Partnership’s noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements consist of (i) the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta and (ii) the 2.0% Occidental subsidiary-owned limited partner interest in WES Operating. For periods prior to Merger completion, the Partnership’s noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements consisted of (i) the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta, (ii) the publicly held limited partner interests in WES Operating, (iii) the common units issued by WES Operating to subsidiaries of Anadarko as part of the consideration paid for prior acquisitions from Anadarko, and (iv) the Class C units issued by WES Operating to a subsidiary of Anadarko as part of the funding for the acquisition of DBM. For all periods presented, WES Operating’s noncontrolling interest in the consolidated financial statements consisted of the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta. See Note 5.
When WES Operating issues equity, the carrying amount of the noncontrolling interest reported by the Partnership is adjusted to reflect the noncontrolling ownership interest in WES Operating. The resulting impact of such noncontrolling interest adjustment on the Partnership’s interest in WES Operating is reflected as an adjustment to the Partnership’s partners’ capital.


20

Table of Contents
WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

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

Shutdown of gathering systems. In May 2018, after assessing a number of factors, and with safety and protection of the environment as the primary focus, the Partnership decided to permanently cease operations at the Kitty Draw gathering system in Wyoming (part of the Hilight system) and the Third Creek gathering system in Colorado (part of the DJ Basin complex). Results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, reflect (i) accruals of zero and $10.9 million, respectively, in anticipated costs associated with the system shutdowns, recorded as a reduction in affiliate Product sales in the consolidated statements of operations, and (ii) impairment expense of $6.8 million and $134.0 million, respectively, associated with reducing the net book value of the gathering systems and recorded an additional asset retirement obligation. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, $6.1 million of the accrual related to the Kitty Draw gathering system shutdown was reversed due to producer settlements being less than initial estimates.

Segments. The Partnership’s operations continue to be organized into a single operating segment, the assets of which gather, compress, treat, process, and transport natural gas; gather, stabilize, and transport condensate, NGLs, and crude oil; and gather and dispose of produced water in the United States.

Recently adopted accounting standards. ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) requires lessee recognition of a lease liability and a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset for all leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than 12 months on the balance sheet. This ASU modifies the definition of a lease and outlines the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of leasing arrangements by both lessees and lessors. The Partnership adopted this standard on January 1, 2019, using the modified retrospective method applied to all leases in existence on January 1, 2019, and prior-period financial statements were not adjusted. The Partnership elected not to reassess contracts that commenced prior to adoption, to continue applying its current accounting policy for existing or expired land easements, and not to recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities for short-term leases.

Leases. The Partnership determines if an arrangement is a lease based on the rights and obligations conveyed at contract inception. At the lease-commencement date, a lease is classified as either operating or finance, and ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of future lease payments over the lease term. As the rate implicit in the Partnership’s leases is generally not readily determinable, the Partnership discounts lease liabilities using the Partnership’s incremental borrowing rate at the commencement date. Non-lease components associated with leases that begin in 2019 or later are accounted for as part of the lease component, and prepaid lease payments are included as ROU assets. Options to extend or terminate a lease are included in the lease term when it is reasonably certain that the Partnership will exercise that option. Leases of 12 months or less are not recognized on the consolidated balance sheets.
Lease cost is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For finance leases, interest expense is recognized over the lease term using the effective interest method. Variable lease payments are recognized when the obligation for those payments is incurred.


21

Table of Contents
WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

2. REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS

The following table summarizes revenue from contracts with customers:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Revenue from customers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service revenues – fee based
 
$
587,965

 
$
486,329

 
$
1,761,483

 
$
1,311,963

Service revenues – product based
 
9,476

 
23,336

 
45,530

 
69,421

Product sales
 
68,248

 
80,736

 
215,517

 
230,290

Total revenue from customers
 
665,689

 
590,401

 
2,022,530

 
1,611,674

Revenue from other than customers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net gains (losses) on commodity-price swap agreements
 

 
(3,737
)
 
(667
)
 
(6,351
)
Other
 
338

 
1,236

 
1,101

 
1,709

Total revenues and other
 
$
666,027

 
$
587,900

 
$
2,022,964

 
$
1,607,032

 

Contract balances. Receivables from customers, which are included in Accounts receivable, net on the consolidated balance sheets were $344.0 million and $214.3 million as of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively.
Contract assets primarily relate to accrued deficiency fees the Partnership expects to charge customers once the related performance periods are completed and revenue accrued but not yet billed under cost of service contracts with fixed and variable fees. The following table summarizes the current period activity related to contract assets from contracts with customers:
thousands
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2018
 
$
47,621

Amounts transferred to Accounts receivable, net that were included in the contract assets balance at the beginning of the period (1)
 
(4,547
)
Additional estimated revenues recognized (2)
 
6,373

Balance at September 30, 2019
 
$
49,447

 
 
 
Contract assets at September 30, 2019
 
 
Other current assets
 
$
5,130

Other assets
 
44,317

Total contract assets from contracts with customers
 
$
49,447


(1) 
Includes $(3.0) million for the three months ended September 30, 2019.
(2) 
Includes $(3.6) million for the three months ended September 30, 2019.


22

Table of Contents
WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

2. REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS (CONTINUED)

Contract liabilities primarily relate to (i) fees that are charged to customers for only a portion of the contract term and must be recognized as revenues over the expected period of customer benefit, (ii) fixed and variable fees under cost of service contracts that are received from customers for which revenue recognition is deferred, and (iii) aid in construction payments received from customers that must be recognized over the expected period of customer benefit. The following table summarizes the current period activity related to contract liabilities from contracts with customers:
thousands
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2018
 
$
145,624

Cash received or receivable, excluding revenues recognized during the period (1)
 
44,365

Revenues recognized that were included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period (2)
 
(11,145
)
Balance at September 30, 2019
 
$
178,844

 
 
 
Contract liabilities at September 30, 2019
 
 
Accrued liabilities
 
$
6,631

Other liabilities
 
172,213

Total contract liabilities from contracts with customers
 
$
178,844


(1) 
Includes $15.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019.
(2) 
Includes $(1.0) million for the three months ended September 30, 2019.

Transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations. Revenues expected to be recognized from certain performance obligations that are unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied) as of September 30, 2019, are reflected in the following table. The Partnership applies the optional exemptions in Topic 606 and does not disclose consideration for remaining performance obligations with an original expected duration of one year or less or for variable consideration related to unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied) performance obligations. Therefore, the following table represents only a portion of expected future revenues from existing contracts as most future revenues from customers are dependent on future variable customer volumes and, in some cases, variable commodity prices for those volumes.
thousands
 
 
Remainder of 2019
 
$
192,599

2020
 
863,447

2021
 
911,705

2022
 
962,522

2023
 
915,249

Thereafter
 
4,399,430

Total
 
$
8,244,952




23

Table of Contents
WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

3. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

AMA acquisition. In February 2019, WES Operating acquired the following assets from Anadarko (see Note 1), which are collectively referred to as the Anadarko Midstream Assets (“AMA”):

Wattenberg processing plant. The Wattenberg processing plant consists of a cryogenic train (with capacity of 190 million cubic feet per day (“MMcf/d”)) and a refrigeration train (with capacity of 100 MMcf/d) located in Adams County, Colorado, now part of the DJ Basin complex.

Wamsutter pipeline. The Wamsutter pipeline is a crude oil gathering pipeline located in Sweetwater County, Wyoming and delivers crude oil into MPLX LP’s SLC Core Pipeline System (formerly referred to as the Wamsutter Pipeline System).

DJ Basin oil system. The DJ Basin oil system consists of (i) a crude oil gathering system, (ii) a centralized oil stabilization facility (“COSF”), and (iii) a 12-mile crude oil pipeline, located in Weld County, Colorado. The COSF consists of Trains I through VI with total capacity of 155 thousand barrels per day (“MBbls/d”) and two storage tanks with total capacity of 500,000 barrels. Train VI commenced operations in 2018. The pipeline connects the COSF to Tampa Rail.

DBM oil system. The DBM oil system consists of (i) a crude oil gathering system, (ii) three central production facilities (“CPFs”), which include ten processing trains with total capacity of 75 MBbls/d, (iii) three storage tanks with total capacity of 30,000 barrels, (iv) a 14-mile crude oil pipeline, and (v) two regional oil treating facilities (“ROTFs”), which include four trains with total capacity of 120 MBbls/d, located in Reeves and Loving Counties, Texas. The ROTFs commenced operations in 2018. The pipeline transports crude oil from the DBM oil system and one third-party CPF into Plains All American Pipeline.

APC water systems. The APC water systems consist of five produced-water disposal systems with total capacity of 565 MBbls/d, located in Reeves, Loving, Winkler, and Ward Counties, Texas, which are now part of the DBM water systems. One produced-water disposal system commenced operations in 2017 and the others commenced operations in 2018.

A 20% interest in Saddlehorn. Saddlehorn owns (i) a crude oil and condensate pipeline (excluding pipeline capacity leased by Saddlehorn) that originates in Laramie County, Wyoming and terminates in Cushing, Oklahoma, and (ii) four storage tanks with total capacity of 300,000 barrels. The Saddlehorn interest is accounted for under the equity method and the pipeline is operated by a third party.

A 15% interest in Panola. Panola owns a 248-mile NGLs pipeline that originates in Panola County, Texas and terminates in Mont Belvieu, Texas. The Panola interest is accounted for under the equity method and the pipeline is operated by a third party.

A 50% interest in Mi Vida. Mi Vida owns a cryogenic gas processing plant (with capacity of 200 MMcf/d) located in Ward County, Texas. The interest in Mi Vida is accounted for under the equity method and the processing plant is operated by a third party.

A 50% interest in Ranch Westex. Ranch Westex owns a processing plant consisting of a cryogenic train (with capacity of 100 MMcf/d) and a refrigeration train (with capacity of 25 MMcf/d), located in Ward County, Texas. The interest in Ranch Westex is accounted for under the equity method and the processing plant is operated by a third party.


24

Table of Contents
WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

3. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES (CONTINUED)

The acquisition of AMA was a transfer of net assets between entities under common control, therefore, the Partnership and WES Operating’s historical financial statements previously filed with the SEC have been recast in this Form 10-Q to include the results attributable to AMA as if it was owned for all periods presented. The consolidated financial statements for periods prior to the acquisition of AMA have been prepared from Anadarko’s historical cost-basis accounts and may not be necessarily indicative of the actual results of operations that would have occurred if AMA had been owned during the periods reported.
The following tables present the impact of AMA on Revenues and other, Equity income, net – affiliates, and Net income (loss) as presented in the Partnership and WES Operating’s historical consolidated statements of operations:
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
thousands
 
Partnership Historical
 
AMA
 
Eliminations
 
Combined
Revenues and other
 
$
507,762

 
$
89,714

 
$
(9,576
)
 
$
587,900

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
43,110

 
11,105

 

 
54,215

Net income (loss)
 
154,677

 
43,883

 

 
198,560

 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
thousands
 
Partnership Historical
 
AMA
 
Eliminations
 
Combined
Revenues and other
 
$
1,432,483

 
$
200,064

 
$
(25,515
)
 
$
1,607,032

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
102,752

 
31,122

 

 
133,874

Net income (loss)
 
339,728

 
107,009

 

 
446,737

 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
thousands
 
WES Operating
Historical
 
AMA
 
Eliminations
 
Combined
Revenues and other
 
$
507,762

 
$
89,714

 
$
(9,576
)
 
$
587,900

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
43,110

 
11,105

 

 
54,215

Net income (loss)
 
155,636

 
43,883

 

 
199,519

 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
thousands
 
WES Operating
Historical
 
AMA
 
Eliminations
 
Combined
Revenues and other
 
$
1,432,483

 
$
200,064

 
$
(25,515
)
 
$
1,607,032

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
102,752

 
31,122

 

 
133,874

Net income (loss)
 
343,503

 
107,009

 

 
450,512



Red Bluff Express acquisition. In January 2019, the Partnership acquired a 30% interest in Red Bluff Express, which owns a natural gas pipeline operated by a third party connecting processing plants in Reeves and Loving Counties, Texas, to the WAHA hub in Pecos County, Texas. The Partnership acquired its 30% interest from a third party via an initial net investment of $92.5 million, which represented its share of costs incurred up to the date of acquisition. The initial investment was funded with cash on hand and the interest in Red Bluff Express is accounted for under the equity method. See Note 8.


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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

3. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES (CONTINUED)

Whitethorn LLC acquisition. In June 2018, the Partnership acquired a 20% interest in Whitethorn LLC, which owns a crude oil and condensate pipeline that originates in Midland, Texas, and terminates in Sealy, Texas (the “Midland-to-Sealy pipeline”) and related storage facilities (collectively referred to as “Whitethorn”). A third party operates Whitethorn and oversees the related commercial activities. In connection with its investment in Whitethorn LLC, the Partnership shares proportionally in the commercial activities. The Partnership acquired its 20% interest via a $150.6 million net investment, which was funded with cash on hand and is accounted for under the equity method. See Note 8.

Cactus II acquisition. In June 2018, the Partnership acquired a 15% interest in Cactus II, which owns a crude oil pipeline operated by a third party (the “Cactus II pipeline”) connecting West Texas to the Corpus Christi area. The Cactus II pipeline began delivering crude oil during the third quarter of 2019 and is expected to become fully operational in the first quarter of 2020. The Partnership acquired its 15% interest from a third party via an initial net investment of $12.1 million, which represented its share of costs incurred up to the date of acquisition. The initial investment was funded with cash on hand and the interest in Cactus II is accounted for under the equity method. See Note 8.

4. PARTNERSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS

The partnership agreement requires the Partnership to distribute all of its available cash (as defined in its partnership agreement) to unitholders of record on the applicable record date within 55 days following each quarter’s end. The Board of Directors of the general partner (the “Board of Directors”) declared the following cash distributions to the Partnership’s unitholders for the periods presented:
thousands except per-unit amounts
Quarters Ended
 
Total Quarterly
Per-unit
Distribution
 
Total Quarterly
Cash Distribution
 
Distribution
Date
2018 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31
 
$
0.56875

 
$
124,518

 
May 2018
June 30
 
0.58250

 
127,531

 
August 2018
September 30
 
0.59500

 
130,268

 
November 2018
December 31
 
0.60250

 
131,910

 
February 2019
2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31
 
$
0.61000

 
$
276,324

 
May 2019
June 30
 
0.61800

 
279,959

 
August 2019
September 30 (2)
 
0.62000

 
280,880

 
November 2019
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
The 2018 distributions were declared and paid prior to the closing of the Merger.
(2) 
The Board of Directors declared a cash distribution to the Partnership’s unitholders for the third quarter of 2019 of $0.62000 per unit, or $280.9 million in aggregate. The cash distribution is payable on November 13, 2019, to unitholders of record at the close of business on November 1, 2019.

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


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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

4. PARTNERSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS (CONTINUED)

WES Operating partnership distributions. For the below-presented 2018 periods, WES Operating paid the cash distributions to WES Operating’s common and general partner unitholders as follows:
thousands except per-unit amounts
Quarters Ended
 
Total Quarterly
Per-unit
Distribution
 
Total Quarterly
Cash Distribution
 
Distribution
Date
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31
 
$
0.935

 
$
221,133

 
May 2018
June 30
 
0.950

 
225,691

 
August 2018
September 30
 
0.965

 
230,239

 
November 2018
December 31
 
0.980

 
234,787

 
February 2019


Immediately prior to the closing of the Merger, the WES Operating IDRs and general partner units were converted into a non-economic general partner interest in WES Operating and WES Operating common units, and upon Merger completion, all WES Operating common units held by the public and subsidiaries of Anadarko (other than common units held by the Partnership, WES Operating GP, and 6.4 million common units held by a subsidiary of Anadarko) were converted into common units of the Partnership. Beginning with the first quarter of 2019, WES Operating makes distributions to the Partnership and WGRAH, a subsidiary of Occidental, in respect of their proportionate share of limited partner interests in WES Operating. For the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019, WES Operating distributed $283.3 million and $288.1 million, respectively, to its limited partners. For the quarter ended September 30, 2019, WES Operating will distribute $289.7 million to its limited partners. See Note 5.

WES Operating Class C unit distributions. Prior to the closing of the Merger, WES Operating’s Class C units received quarterly distributions at an equivalent rate to WES Operating’s publicly traded common units. The Class C unit distributions were paid in the form of additional Class C Units (“PIK Class C units”) and were disregarded with respect to WES Operating’s distributions of available cash. The number of PIK Class C units issued in connection with a distribution payable on the Class C units was determined by dividing the corresponding distribution attributable to the Class C units by the volume-weighted average price of WES Operating’s common units for the ten days immediately preceding the payment date of the common unit distribution, less a 6% discount. WES Operating recorded the PIK Class C unit distributions at fair value at the time of issuance. This Level-2 fair value measurement used WES Operating’s unit price as a significant input in the determination of the fair value. See Note 5 for further discussion of the Class C units.
In February 2019, immediately prior to the closing of the Merger, all outstanding Class C units converted into WES Operating common units on a one-for-one basis (see Note 1).

WES Operating’s general partner interest and incentive distribution rights. Prior to the closing of the Merger, WES Operating GP was entitled to 1.5% of all quarterly distributions that WES Operating made prior to its liquidation and, as the former holder of the IDRs, was entitled to incentive distributions at the maximum distribution sharing percentage of 48.0% for all prior periods presented. Immediately prior to the closing of the Merger, the IDRs and the general partner units converted into a non-economic general partner interest in WES Operating and WES Operating common units (see Note 1).


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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

5. EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

Holdings of Partnership equity. The Partnership’s common units are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “WES.” As of September 30, 2019, Occidental held 251,197,617 common units, representing a 55.4% limited partner interest in the Partnership, and, through its ownership of the general partner, Occidental indirectly held the entire non-economic general partner interest in the Partnership. The public held 201,834,433 common units, representing a 44.6% limited partner interest in the Partnership.
In February 2019, the Partnership issued common units in connection with the closing of the Merger (see Note 1) as follows:
Partnership common units outstanding prior to the Merger
 
 
218,937,797

WES Operating common units outstanding prior to the Merger
 
152,609,285

 
WES Operating Class C units outstanding prior to the Merger
 
14,681,388

 
Less: WES Operating common units owned by the Partnership
 
(50,132,046
)
 
WES Operating common units subject to conversion into Partnership common units
 
117,158,627


Exchange ratio per unit
 
1.525


Partnership common units issued for WES Operating common units (1)
 
 
178,692,081

WES Operating common units issued as part of the AMA acquisition
 
45,760,201

 
Less: WES Operating common units retained by a subsidiary of Anadarko
 
(6,375,284
)
 
WES Operating acquisition common units subject to conversion into Partnership common units
 
39,384,917

 
Conversion ratio per unit
 
1.4056

 
Partnership common units issued for WES Operating acquisition common units
 
 
55,360,984

Partnership common units outstanding at February 28, 2019
 
 
452,990,862


                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Total Partnership units issued upon Merger completion exceeds the calculation of such units using the exchange ratio due to the rounding convention reflected in the Merger Agreement.

Holdings of WES Operating equity. As of September 30, 2019, (i) the Partnership, directly and indirectly through its ownership of WES Operating GP, owned a 98.0% limited partner interest and the entire non-economic general partner interest in WES Operating and (ii) Occidental, through its ownership of WGRAH, owned a 2.0% limited partner interest in WES Operating, which is reflected as a noncontrolling interest within the consolidated financial statements of the Partnership (see Note 1).

WES Operating interests. The following table summarizes WES Operating’s units issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2019:
 
 
Common
Units
 
Class C
Units
 
General
Partner
Units
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2018
 
152,609,285

 
14,372,665

 
2,583,068

 
169,565,018

PIK Class C units
 

 
308,723

 

 
308,723

Conversion of Class C units
 
14,681,388

 
(14,681,388
)
 

 

IDR and General partner unit conversion
 
105,624,704

 

 
(2,583,068
)
 
103,041,636

Units issued as part of the AMA acquisition
 
45,760,201

 

 

 
45,760,201

Balance at September 30, 2019 (1)
 
318,675,578

 

 

 
318,675,578

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
All WES Operating common units that converted into the Partnership’s common units upon closing of the Merger were canceled and an equivalent amount of the canceled WES Operating common units were issued to the Partnership. See Note 1 for further details on the units issued and converted in connection with the closing of the Merger.


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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

5. EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL (CONTINUED)

WES Operating Class C units. In November 2014, WES Operating issued 10,913,853 Class C units to AMH, pursuant to a Unit Purchase Agreement with Anadarko and AMH. The Class C units were issued to partially fund the acquisition of DBM.
The Class C units were issued at a discount to the then-current market price of the common units into which they were convertible. This discount, totaling $34.8 million, represented a beneficial conversion feature, and at issuance, was reflected as an increase to WES Operating common unitholders’ capital and a decrease to Class C unitholder capital to reflect the fair value of the Class C units at issuance. The beneficial conversion feature was considered a non-cash distribution that was recognized from the date of issuance through the date of conversion, resulting in an increase to Class C unitholder capital and a decrease to common unitholders’ capital as amortized. The beneficial conversion feature was amortized assuming an extended conversion date of March 1, 2020, using the effective yield method. The impact of the beneficial conversion feature amortization was included in the calculation of earnings per unit (see WES Operating’s net income (loss) per common unit below).
All outstanding Class C units converted into WES Operating common units on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to the closing of the Merger (see Note 1).

Partnership’s net income (loss) per common unit. The Partnership’s net income (loss) per common unit is calculated by dividing the limited partners’ interest in net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of common units outstanding during the period. Net income (loss) attributable to assets acquired from Anadarko for periods prior to the acquisition of such assets was not allocated to the limited partners when calculating net income (loss) per common unit.

WES Operating’s net income (loss) per common unit. For periods subsequent to the closing of the Merger, net income (loss) per common unit for WES Operating is not calculated as it no longer has publicly traded units. For periods prior to the closing of the Merger, Net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Operating, LP earned on and subsequent to the date of acquisition of the Partnership’s assets was allocated as discussed below. Net income (loss) attributable to assets acquired from Anadarko for periods prior to the acquisition of such assets was not allocated to the unitholders for purposes of calculating net income (loss) per common unit.

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

Common and Class C unitholders. The Class C units were considered a participating security because they participated in distributions with common units according to a predetermined formula (see Note 4). The common and Class C unitholders’ allocation was equal to their cash distributions plus their respective allocations of undistributed earnings or losses. Specifically, net income equal to the amount of available cash (as defined by the WES Operating partnership agreement) was allocated to the common and Class C unitholders consistent with actual cash distributions and capital account allocations. Undistributed earnings or undistributed losses were then allocated to the common and Class C unitholders in accordance with their respective weighted-average ownership percentages during each period. The common unitholder allocation also included the impact of the amortization of the Class C units beneficial conversion feature. Similarly, the Class C unitholder allocation was impacted by the amortization of the Class C units beneficial conversion feature (see WES Operating Class C units above).


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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

5. EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL (CONTINUED)

Calculation of net income (loss) per unit. Basic net income (loss) per common unit was calculated by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common unitholders by the weighted-average number of common units outstanding during the period. The common units issued in connection with acquisitions and equity offerings were included on a weighted-average basis for the periods these units were outstanding. Diluted net income (loss) per common unit was calculated by dividing the sum of (i) the net income (loss) attributable to common units and (ii) the net income (loss) attributable to the Class C units as a participating security, by the sum of the weighted-average number of common units outstanding plus the dilutive effect of the weighted-average number of outstanding Class C units.
The following table illustrates the calculation of WES Operating’s net income (loss) per common unit:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except per-unit amounts
 
2018
 
2018
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Operating, LP
 
$
198,529

 
$
443,726

Pre-acquisition net (income) loss allocated to Anadarko
 
(43,883
)
 
(107,009
)
General partner interest in net (income) loss
 
(88,551
)
 
(256,166
)
Common and Class C limited partners’ interest in net income (loss)
 
$
66,095

 
$
80,551

Net income (loss) allocable to common units (1)
 
$
59,732

 
$
69,638

Net income (loss) allocable to Class C units (1)
 
6,363

 
10,913

Common and Class C limited partners’ interest in net income (loss)
 
$
66,095

 
$
80,551

Net income (loss) per unit
 
 
 
 
Common units – basic and diluted (2)
 
$
0.39

 
$
0.46

Weighted-average units outstanding
 
 
 
 
Common units – basic and diluted
 
152,609

 
152,605

Excluded due to anti-dilutive effect:
 
 
 
 
Class C units (2)
 
13,921

 
13,652

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Adjusted to reflect amortization of the beneficial conversion feature.
(2) 
The impact of Class C units would be anti-dilutive for the periods presented.


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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

6. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

Affiliate transactions. Revenues from affiliates include amounts earned by the Partnership from services provided to Occidental and from the sale of natural gas, condensate, and NGLs to Occidental. Occidental sells natural gas, condensate, and NGLs as an agent on behalf of either the Partnership or the Partnership’s customers. When product sales are on the Partnership’s customers’ behalf, the Partnership recognizes associated service revenues and cost of product expense. When product sales are on the Partnership’s behalf, the Partnership recognizes product sales revenues based on Occidental’s sales price to the third party and records the associated cost of product expense. In addition, the Partnership purchases natural gas, condensate, and NGLs from an affiliate of Occidental pursuant to gas purchase agreements.
Operation and maintenance expense includes amounts accrued for or paid to affiliates for the operation of the Partnership’s assets, and for services provided to affiliates and third parties, including field labor, measurement and analysis, and other disbursements. A portion of general and administrative expense is paid by Occidental, which results in affiliate transactions pursuant to the reimbursement provisions of the Partnership’s and WES Operating’s omnibus agreements with Occidental. Affiliate expenses do not bear a direct relationship to affiliate revenues, and third-party expenses do not bear a direct relationship to third-party revenues.

Merger transactions. As discussed in more detail in Note 1, on February 28, 2019, the Partnership, WES Operating, Anadarko, and certain of their affiliates completed the Merger and the other transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement, which included the acquisition of AMA from Anadarko. See Note 3.

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

Note receivable - Anadarko. In May 2008, WES Operating loaned $260.0 million to Anadarko in exchange for a 30-year note bearing interest at a fixed annual rate of 6.50%, payable quarterly. The fair value of the Anadarko note receivable was $341.9 million and $279.6 million at September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively. Following Occidental’s acquisition by merger of Anadarko, the fair value of the Anadarko note receivable reflects consideration of Occidental’s credit risk and any premium or discount for the differential between the stated interest rate and quarter-end market interest rate, based on quoted market prices of similar debt instruments. Accordingly, the fair value of the note receivable is measured using Level-2 fair value inputs.

APCWH Note Payable. In June 2017, APCWH entered into an eight-year note payable agreement with Anadarko, which was repaid at the Merger completion date. See Note 1 and Note 10.

Commodity-price swap agreements. WES Operating entered into commodity-price swap agreements with Anadarko to mitigate exposure to the commodity-price risk inherent in WES Operating’s percent-of-proceeds, percent-of-product, and keep-whole natural gas processing contracts. Notional volumes for each product-based commodity-price swap agreement were not specifically defined. Instead, the commodity-price swap agreements applied to the actual volumes of natural gas, condensate, and NGLs purchased and sold. The commodity-price swap agreements did not satisfy the definition of a derivative financial instrument and, therefore did not require fair-value measurement. Net gains (losses) on commodity-price swap agreements were zero and $(0.7) million (due to settlement of 2018 activity in 2019) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $(3.7) million and $(6.4) million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, and are reported in the consolidated statements of operations as affiliate Product sales. These commodity-price swap agreements expired without renewal on December 31, 2018.


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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

6. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (CONTINUED)

Revenues or costs attributable to volumes sold and purchased during 2018 and/or settled during 2019 for the DJ Basin complex and the MGR assets are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations at the applicable market price in the tables below. A capital contribution from Anadarko was recorded in the consolidated statements of equity and partners’ capital for an amount equal to (i) the amount by which the swap price for product sales exceeds the applicable market price in the tables below, minus (ii) the amount by which the swap price for product purchases exceeds the applicable market price in the tables below. The tables below summarize the swap prices compared to the forward market prices:
 
 
DJ Basin Complex
per barrel except natural gas
 
2018 Swap Prices
 
2018 Market Prices (1)
Ethane
 
$
18.41

 
$
5.41

Propane
 
47.08

 
28.72

Isobutane
 
62.09

 
32.92

Normal butane
 
54.62

 
32.71

Natural gasoline
 
72.88

 
48.04

Condensate
 
76.47

 
49.36

Natural gas (per MMBtu)
 
5.96

 
2.21


 
 
MGR Assets
per barrel except natural gas
 
2018 Swap Prices
 
2018 Market Prices (1)
Ethane
 
$
23.11

 
$
2.52

Propane
 
52.90

 
25.83

Isobutane
 
73.89

 
30.03

Normal butane
 
64.93

 
29.82

Natural gasoline
 
81.68

 
47.25

Condensate
 
81.68

 
56.76

Natural gas (per MMBtu)
 
4.87

 
2.21

(1) 
Represents the New York Mercantile Exchange forward strip price as of December 20, 2017, for the 2018 Market Prices, adjusted for product specification, location, basis, and, in the case of NGLs, transportation and fractionation costs.


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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

6. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (CONTINUED)

Gathering and processing agreements. The Partnership has significant gathering and processing arrangements with affiliates of Occidental on most of its systems. Natural gas gathering, treating, and transportation throughput (excluding equity investment throughput) attributable to production owned or controlled by Occidental was 7% and 6% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and 8% and 7% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. Natural gas processing throughput (excluding equity investment throughput) attributable to production owned or controlled by Occidental was 42% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, and 41% and 40% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. Crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water gathering, treating, transportation, and disposal throughput (excluding equity investment throughput) attributable to production owned or controlled by Occidental was 82% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, and 91% and 85% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively.

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

LTIPs. The general partner awards phantom units under the Western Gas Partners, LP 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (assumed by the Partnership in connection with the Merger) and the Western Gas Equity Partners, LP 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (collectively referred to as the “LTIPs”) to its independent directors, executive officers, and Occidental employees performing services for the Partnership from time to time. Phantom units awarded to the independent directors vest one year from the grant date, while all other phantom unit awards are subject to ratable vesting over a three-year service period.

Incentive Plans. General and administrative expense includes equity-based compensation expense allocated to the Partnership by Occidental for awards granted to the executive officers of the general partner and to other employees under (i) the Anadarko Petroleum Corporation 2012 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated, (ii) Occidental’s 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan, and (iii) Occidental’s Phantom Share Unit Award Plan (collectively referred to as the “Incentive Plans”). General and administrative expense includes costs related to the Incentive Plans of $3.5 million and $9.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, and $1.4 million and $5.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. Portions of these amounts are reflected as contributions to partners’ capital in the consolidated statements of equity and partners’ capital.

Purchases from affiliates. During the third quarter of 2019, the Partnership purchased $18.4 million of materials and supplies inventory from Occidental, which is included in Other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets.

Affiliate asset contributions. The following table summarizes affiliate contributions of other assets to the Partnership:
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
thousands
 
Purchases
Cash consideration
 
$

 
$
(254
)
Net carrying value
 

 
59,089

Partners’ capital adjustment
 
$

 
$
58,835



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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

6. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (CONTINUED)

Summary of affiliate transactions. The following table summarizes material affiliate transactions included in the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Revenues and other (1)
 
$
398,753

 
$
350,291

 
$
1,162,374

 
$
925,011

Equity income, net – affiliates (1)
 
53,893

 
54,215

 
175,483

 
133,874

Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of product (1)
 
61,066

 
39,702

 
185,463

 
112,522

Operation and maintenance (1)
 
39,459

 
29,794

 
110,918

 
79,621

General and administrative (2)
 
27,724

 
12,645

 
73,510

 
37,595

Total operating expenses
 
128,249

 
82,141

 
369,891

 
229,738

Interest income (3)
 
4,225

 
4,225

 
12,675

 
12,675

Interest expense (4)
 
59

 
2,035

 
1,912

 
4,021

APCWH Note Payable borrowings (5)
 

 
77,560

 
11,000

 
265,468

Repayment of APCWH Note Payable (5)
 

 

 
439,595

 

Distributions to Partnership unitholders (6)
 
155,240

 
99,247

 
411,125

 
298,818

Distributions to WES Operating unitholders (7)
 
5,763

 
1,911

 
13,973

 
5,642

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko
 

 
12,601

 
7,407

 
40,722

(1) 
Represents amounts earned or incurred on and subsequent to the date of the acquisition of assets from Anadarko, and amounts earned or incurred by Anadarko on a historical basis for periods prior to the acquisition of such assets.
(2) 
Represents general and administrative expense incurred on and subsequent to the date of the acquisition of assets from Anadarko, and a management services fee for expenses incurred by Anadarko for periods prior to the acquisition of such assets. These amounts include equity-based compensation expense allocated to the Partnership by Occidental (see LTIPs and Incentive Plans within this Note 6) and amounts charged by Occidental under the omnibus agreements of the Partnership and WES Operating.
(3) 
Represents interest income recognized on the Anadarko note receivable.
(4) 
See Note 10.
(5) 
See Note 1.
(6) 
Represents distributions paid to Occidental pursuant to the partnership agreement of the Partnership (see Note 4 and Note 5).
(7) 
Represents distributions paid to other subsidiaries of Occidental pursuant to WES Operating’s partnership agreement (see Note 4 and Note 5).

The following table summarizes affiliate transactions for WES Operating (which are included in the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements) to the extent the amounts differ from the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
General and administrative (1)
 
$
26,915

 
$
12,443

 
$
71,793

 
$
36,966

Distributions to WES Operating unitholders (2)
 
288,083

 
130,249

 
736,256

 
381,617

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Represents general and administrative expense incurred on and subsequent to the date of the acquisition of assets from Anadarko, and a management services fee for expenses incurred by Anadarko for periods prior to the acquisition of such assets. These amounts include equity-based compensation expense allocated to WES Operating by Occidental (see LTIPs and Incentive Plans within this Note 6) and amounts charged by Occidental pursuant to the omnibus agreement of WES Operating.
(2) 
Represents distributions paid to the Partnership and other subsidiaries of Occidental pursuant to WES Operating’s partnership agreement (see Note 4 and Note 5). For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, includes distributions to the Partnership and a subsidiary of Occidental related to the repayment of the WGP RCF (see Note 10).


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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

6. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (CONTINUED)

Concentration of credit risk. Occidental was the only customer from which revenues exceeded 10% of consolidated revenues for all periods presented in the consolidated statements of operations.

7. PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT

A summary of the historical cost of property, plant, and equipment is as follows:
thousands
 
Estimated Useful Life
 
September 30, 
 2019
 
December 31, 
 2018
Land
 
n/a
 
$
9,160

 
$
5,298

Gathering systems – pipelines
 
30 years
 
5,031,293

 
4,764,099

Gathering systems – compressors
 
15 years
 
1,870,538

 
1,712,939

Processing complexes and treating facilities
 
25 years
 
2,959,307

 
2,844,337

Transportation pipeline and equipment
 
6 to 45 years
 
172,808

 
172,558

Produced-water disposal systems
 
20 years
 
721,414

 
629,946

Assets under construction
 
n/a
 
733,888

 
604,265

Other
 
3 to 40 years
 
611,515

 
525,331

Total property, plant, and equipment
 
 
 
12,109,923

 
11,258,773

Less accumulated depreciation
 
 
 
3,176,089

 
2,848,420

Net property, plant, and equipment
 

 
$
8,933,834

 
$
8,410,353



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

Impairments. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Partnership recognized impairments of $4.3 million, primarily at the DJ Basin complex due to impairments of rights-of-way and cancellation of projects.
During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Partnership recognized impairments of $230.6 million, including impairments of $125.9 million at the Third Creek gathering system and $8.1 million at the Kitty Draw gathering system. These assets were impaired to estimated salvage values of $1.8 million and zero, respectively, using the market approach and Level-3 fair value inputs, due to the shutdown of these systems in May 2018. During 2018, the Partnership also recognized impairments of $38.7 million and $34.6 million at the Hilight and MIGC systems, respectively. These assets were impaired to estimated fair values of $4.9 million and $15.2 million, respectively, using the income approach and Level-3 fair value inputs, due to a reduction in estimated future cash flows. The remaining $23.3 million of impairments primarily was related to (i) a $10.9 million impairment at the GNB NGL pipeline, which was impaired to estimated fair value of $10.0 million using the income approach and Level-3 fair value inputs, and (ii) a $5.6 million impairment related to an idle facility at the Chipeta complex, which was impaired to estimated salvage value of $1.5 million using the market approach and Level-3 fair value inputs.


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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

8. EQUITY INVESTMENTS

The following table presents the equity investments activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2019:
thousands
 
Balance at December 31, 2018
 
Acquisitions
 
Equity
income, net
 
Contributions (1)
 
Distributions
 
Distributions in
excess of
cumulative
earnings (2)
 
Balance at September 30, 2019
Fort Union
 
$
2,259

 
$

 
$
(1,698
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
(565
)
 
$
(4
)
White Cliffs
 
43,020

 

 
7,720

 
4,992

 
(7,283
)
 
(2,822
)
 
45,627

Rendezvous
 
37,841

 

 
595

 

 
(2,051
)
 
(1,805
)
 
34,580

Mont Belvieu JV
 
104,949

 

 
21,755

 

 
(21,784
)
 
(1,391
)
 
103,529

TEG
 
19,358

 

 
3,000

 

 
(3,017
)
 
(558
)
 
18,783

TEP
 
193,198

 

 
22,747

 
11,020

 
(24,677
)
 

 
202,288

FRP
 
176,436

 

 
23,494

 
20,175

 
(23,619
)
 

 
196,486

Whitethorn LLC
 
161,858

 

 
62,893

 
10,332

 
(62,034
)
 
(7,139
)
 
165,910

Cactus II
 
106,360

 

 

 
47,599

 

 

 
153,959

Saddlehorn
 
108,507

 

 
18,408

 
3,550

 
(17,679
)
 

 
112,786

Panola
 
22,769

 

 
1,492

 

 
(1,492
)
 
(861
)
 
21,908

Mi Vida
 
64,631

 

 
8,469

 

 
(10,611
)
 
(2,743
)
 
59,746

Ranch Westex
 
50,902

 

 
5,187

 

 
(6,668
)
 
(2,508
)
 
46,913

Red Bluff Express
 

 
92,546

 
1,421

 
10,450

 
(1,422
)
 
(811
)
 
102,184

Total
 
$
1,092,088

 
$
92,546

 
$
175,483

 
$
108,118

 
$
(182,337
)
 
$
(21,203
)
 
$
1,264,695

(1) 
Includes capitalized interest of $4.8 million related to the construction of the Cactus II pipeline.
(2) 
Distributions in excess of cumulative earnings, classified as investing cash flows in the consolidated statements of cash flows, are calculated on an individual investment basis.

9. COMPONENTS OF WORKING CAPITAL

A summary of accounts receivable, net is as follows:
 
 
The Partnership
 
WES Operating
thousands
 
September 30, 
 2019
 
December 31, 
 2018
 
September 30, 
 2019
 
December 31, 
 2018
Trade receivables, net
 
$
232,759

 
$
221,119

 
$
235,558

 
$
221,328

Other receivables, net
 
59

 
45

 
59

 
45

Total accounts receivable, net
 
$
232,818

 
$
221,164

 
$
235,617

 
$
221,373



A summary of other current assets is as follows:
 
 
The Partnership
 
WES Operating
thousands
 
September 30, 
 2019
 
December 31, 
 2018
 
September 30, 
 2019
 
December 31, 
 2018
NGLs inventory
 
$
504

 
$
1,203

 
$
504

 
$
1,203

Materials and supplies inventory
 
25,151

 
9,665

 
25,151

 
9,665

Imbalance receivables
 
4,118

 
9,035

 
4,118

 
9,035

Prepaid insurance
 
8,087

 
1,972

 
5,237

 
1,972

Contract assets
 
5,130

 
5,399

 
5,130

 
5,399

Other
 

 
4,184

 

 
3,309

Total other current assets
 
$
42,990

 
$
31,458

 
$
40,140

 
$
30,583



36

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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

9. COMPONENTS OF WORKING CAPITAL (CONTINUED)

A summary of accrued liabilities is as follows:
 
 
The Partnership
 
WES Operating
thousands
 
September 30, 
 2019
 
December 31, 
 2018
 
September 30, 
 2019
 
December 31, 
 2018
Accrued interest expense
 
$
56,240

 
$
70,968

 
$
56,240

 
$
70,959

Short-term asset retirement obligations
 
26,996

 
25,938

 
26,996

 
25,938

Short-term remediation and reclamation obligations
 
863

 
863

 
863

 
863

Income taxes payable
 
913

 
384

 
913

 
384

Contract liabilities
 
6,631

 
16,235

 
6,631

 
16,235

Other (1)
 
177,751

 
14,760

 
177,590

 
13,495

Total accrued liabilities
 
$
269,394

 
$
129,148

 
$
269,233

 
$
127,874

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Includes amounts related to WES Operating’s interest-rate swaps as of September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018 (see Note 10). Includes lease liabilities related to the implementation of ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) as of September 30, 2019 (see Note 1).

10. DEBT AND INTEREST EXPENSE

WES Operating is the borrower for all outstanding debt, excluding the WGP RCF, and is expected to be the borrower for all future debt issuances. The following table presents the outstanding debt:
 
 
September 30, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
thousands
 
Principal
 
Carrying
Value
 
Fair
Value (1)
 
Principal
 
Carrying
Value
 
Fair
Value (1)
Short-term debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WGP RCF
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
28,000

 
$
28,000

 
$
28,000

Finance lease liabilities (2)
 
8,128

 
8,128

 
8,128

 

 

 

Total short-term debt
 
$
8,128

 
$
8,128

 
$
8,128

 
$
28,000

 
$
28,000

 
$
28,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.375% Senior Notes due 2021
 
$
500,000

 
$
497,861

 
$
516,271

 
$
500,000

 
$
496,959

 
$
515,990

4.000% Senior Notes due 2022
 
670,000

 
669,260

 
678,551

 
670,000

 
669,078

 
662,109

3.950% Senior Notes due 2025
 
500,000

 
493,579

 
483,834

 
500,000

 
492,837

 
466,135

4.650% Senior Notes due 2026
 
500,000

 
496,074

 
494,665

 
500,000

 
495,710

 
483,994

4.500% Senior Notes due 2028
 
400,000

 
394,990

 
387,104

 
400,000

 
394,631

 
377,475

4.750% Senior Notes due 2028
 
400,000

 
396,101

 
394,121

 
400,000

 
395,841

 
384,370

5.450% Senior Notes due 2044
 
600,000

 
593,439

 
531,248

 
600,000

 
593,349

 
522,386

5.300% Senior Notes due 2048
 
700,000

 
686,793

 
608,994

 
700,000

 
686,648

 
605,327

5.500% Senior Notes due 2048
 
350,000

 
342,405

 
311,460

 
350,000

 
342,328

 
311,536

RCF
 
160,000

 
160,000

 
160,000

 
220,000

 
220,000

 
220,000

Term loan facility
 
3,000,000

 
3,000,000

 
3,000,000

 

 

 

APCWH Note Payable
 

 

 

 
427,493

 
427,493

 
427,493

Total long-term debt
 
$
7,780,000

 
$
7,730,502

 
$
7,566,248

 
$
5,267,493

 
$
5,214,874

 
$
4,976,815

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Fair value is measured using the market approach and Level-2 fair value inputs.
(2) 
Amounts are considered affiliate. See Note 11.


37

Table of Contents
WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

10. DEBT AND INTEREST EXPENSE (CONTINUED)

Debt activity. The following table presents the debt activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2019:
thousands
 
Carrying Value
Balance at December 31, 2018
 
$
5,242,874

RCF borrowings
 
940,000

Term loan facility borrowings
 
3,000,000

APCWH Note Payable borrowings
 
11,000

Finance lease liabilities
 
8,128

Repayments of RCF borrowings
 
(1,000,000
)
Repayment of WGP RCF borrowings
 
(28,000
)
Repayment of APCWH Note Payable
 
(439,595
)
Other
 
4,223

Balance at September 30, 2019
 
$
7,738,630



WES Operating Senior Notes. At September 30, 2019, WES Operating was in compliance with all covenants under the relevant governing indentures.

WGP RCF. In February 2018, the Partnership voluntarily reduced aggregate commitments of the lenders under the WGP RCF to $35.0 million. The WGP RCF, which previously was available to purchase WES Operating common units and for general partnership purposes, matured in March 2019 and the $28.0 million of outstanding borrowings were repaid.

Revolving credit facility. WES Operating’s $2.0 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility (“RCF) that matures in February 2024 is expandable to a maximum of $2.5 billion and bears interest at the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), plus applicable margins ranging from 1.00% to 1.50%, or an alternate base rate equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.50%, or (c) LIBOR plus 1.00%, in each case plus applicable margins currently ranging from zero to 0.50%, based upon WES Operating’s senior unsecured debt rating. A required quarterly facility fee is paid ranging from 0.125% to 0.250% of the commitment amount (whether used or unused), also based upon the senior unsecured debt rating.
As of September 30, 2019, there was $160.0 million of outstanding borrowings and $4.6 million of outstanding letters of credit, resulting in $1.8 billion available borrowing capacity under the RCF. As of September 30, 2019 and 2018, the interest rate on any outstanding RCF borrowings was 3.34% and 3.56%, respectively. The facility fee rate was 0.20% at September 30, 2019 and 2018. At September 30, 2019, WES Operating was in compliance with all covenants under the RCF.

Term loan facility. In December 2018, WES Operating entered into a $2.0 billion 364-day senior unsecured credit facility (the “Term loan facility”), the proceeds of which were used to fund substantially all of the cash portion of the consideration under the Merger Agreement and the payment of related transaction costs (see Note 1). The Term loan facility bears interest at LIBOR, plus applicable margins ranging from 1.000% to 1.625%, or an alternate base rate equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.50%, or (c) LIBOR plus 1.00%, in each case as defined in the Term loan facility and plus applicable margins currently ranging from zero to 0.625%, based upon WES Operating’s senior unsecured debt rating. Net cash proceeds received from future asset sales and debt or equity offerings must be used to repay amounts outstanding under the facility.
In July 2019, WES Operating entered into an amendment to the Term loan facility to (i) extend the maturity date from February 2020 to December 2020, (ii) increase the commitments available under the Term loan facility from $2.0 billion to $3.0 billion, the incremental $1.0 billion of which was subsequently drawn by WES Operating on September 13, 2019, and used to repay outstanding borrowings under the RCF, and (iii) modify the provision requiring that all debt issuance proceeds be used to repay the Term loan facility to allow for a $1.0 billion exclusion for debt offering proceeds.


38

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WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

10. DEBT AND INTEREST EXPENSE (CONTINUED)

As of September 30, 2019, there was $3.0 billion of outstanding borrowings under the Term loan facility that were subject to an interest rate of 3.42%. WES Operating was in compliance with all covenants under the Term loan facility as of September 30, 2019.

All of WES Operating’s notes and obligations under the RCF and Term loan facility are recourse to WES Operating GP. WES Operating GP is indemnified by wholly owned subsidiaries of Occidental against any claims made against WES Operating GP for WES Operating’s long-term debt and/or borrowings under the RCF and Term loan facility.

APCWH Note Payable. In June 2017, in connection with funding the construction of the APC water systems that were acquired as part of the AMA acquisition, APCWH entered into an eight-year note payable agreement with Anadarko. This note payable had a maximum borrowing limit of $500.0 million, including accrued interest, which was payable upon maturity at the applicable mid-term federal rate based on a quarterly compounding basis as determined by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. As of September 30, 2018, the interest rate on the outstanding borrowings was 2.83%. The APCWH Note Payable was repaid upon Merger completion. See Note 1.

Interest-rate swaps. In December 2018 and March 2019, WES Operating entered into interest-rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $750.0 million and $375.0 million, respectively, to manage interest rate risk associated with anticipated debt issuances. Pursuant to these swap agreements, a floating interest rate indexed to the three-month LIBOR was exchanged for a fixed interest rate. Depending on market conditions, liability management actions, or other factors, WES Operating may settle or amend certain or all of the currently outstanding interest-rate swaps. The following interest-rate swaps were outstanding as of September 30, 2019:
Notional Principal Amount
 
Reference Period
 
Mandatory Termination Date
 
Weighted-Average Interest Rate
$375.0 million
 
December 2019 - 2024
 
December 2019
 
2.662%
$375.0 million
 
December 2019 - 2029
 
December 2019
 
2.802%
$375.0 million
 
December 2019 - 2049
 
December 2019
 
2.885%


The Partnership does not apply hedge accounting and, therefore, gains and losses associated with currently outstanding interest-rate swaps are recognized currently in earnings. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, non-cash losses of $68.3 million and $162.9 million, respectively, were recognized, which are included in Other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations.
Valuation of the interest-rate swaps is based on similar transactions observable in active markets and industry standard models that primarily rely on market-observable inputs. Inputs used to estimate fair value in industry standard models are categorized as Level-2 inputs because substantially all assumptions and inputs are observable in active markets throughout the full term of the instruments. Inputs used to estimate the fair value include market price curves, contract terms and prices, and credit risk adjustments. The fair value of the interest-rate swaps was a liability of $170.9 million and $8.0 million at September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively, which is reported within Accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.


39

Table of Contents
WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

10. DEBT AND INTEREST EXPENSE (CONTINUED)

Credit risk considerations. Over-the-counter traded swaps expose the Partnership to counterparty credit risk. The Partnership monitors the creditworthiness of its counterparties, establishes credit limits according to credit policies and guidelines, and assesses the impact on the fair value of its counterparties’ creditworthiness. Under certain circumstances, the Partnership has the ability to require cash collateral or letters of credit to mitigate its credit risk exposure. The interest-rate swaps are subject to individually negotiated credit provisions that may require cash collateral or letters of credit depending on the derivative’s portfolio valuation versus negotiated credit thresholds. These credit thresholds generally require full or partial collateralization of the Partnership’s obligations depending on certain credit-risk-related events. Specifically, collateral may be required to be posted with respect to the interest-rate swaps if WES Operating’s credit ratings decline below current levels, the existing liability associated with the swaps increases substantially, or certain credit event of default provisions are triggered. For example, based on the interest-rate derivative liability positions as of September 30, 2019, if WES Operating’s credit ratings from both Standard and Poor’s (“S&P”) and Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) were below the investment grade thresholds of BBB- and Baa3, respectively, cash collateral of up to approximately $78.3 million would have been required to be posted as of September 30, 2019. As of September 30, 2019, WES Operating’s credit rating was BBB- by S&P, Ba1 by Moody’s, and BBB- by Fitch Ratings. The aggregate fair value of interest-rate swaps with credit-risk related contingent features for which a net liability position existed was $142.6 million and $5.7 million at September 30, 2019, and December 31, 2018, respectively.

Interest expense. The following table summarizes the amounts included in interest expense:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Third parties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term and short-term debt
 
$
(83,712
)
 
$
(53,229
)
 
$
(233,432
)
 
$
(143,436
)
Amortization of debt issuance costs and commitment fees
 
(3,139
)
 
(2,054
)
 
(9,461
)
 
(6,955
)
Capitalized interest
 
8,386

 
8,449

 
20,933

 
25,283

Total interest expense – third parties
 
(78,465
)
 
(46,834
)
 
(221,960
)
 
(125,108
)
Affiliates
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
APCWH Note Payable
 

 
(2,035
)
 
(1,833
)
 
(4,021
)
Finance lease liabilities
 
(59
)
 

 
(79
)
 

Total interest expense – affiliates
 
(59
)
 
(2,035
)
 
(1,912
)
 
(4,021
)
Interest expense
 
$
(78,524
)
 
$
(48,869
)
 
$
(223,872
)
 
$
(129,129
)


11. LEASES

Occidental, on behalf of the Partnership, has entered into operating leases that extend through 2028 for corporate offices, shared field offices, and equipment supporting the Partnership’s operations, for which Occidental charges the Partnership rent. The Partnership also has subleased equipment from Occidental with finance leases extending through April 2020.


40

Table of Contents
WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

11. LEASES (CONTINUED)

The following table summarizes information related to the Partnership’s leases at September 30, 2019:
thousands except lease term and discount rate
 
Operating Leases
 
Finance Leases
Assets
 
 
 
 
Other assets
 
$
5,313

 
$

Net property, plant, and equipment
 

 
8,133

Total lease assets (1)
 
$
5,313

 
$
8,133

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 

 
 
Accrued liabilities
 
$
3,037

 
$

Short-term debt
 

 
8,128

Other liabilities
 
3,151

 

Total lease liabilities (1)
 
$
6,188

 
$
8,128

 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average remaining lease term (years)
 
4

 
1

Weighted-average discount rate
 
4.6
%
 
2.9
%
 
                                                                                                                                                                                   
(1) 
Includes additions to ROU assets and lease liabilities of $8.5 million related to finance leases for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

Lease expense charged to the Partnership was $15.5 million and $42.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. The following table summarizes the Partnership’s lease cost for the periods presented below:
thousands
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30, 2019
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30, 2019
Operating lease cost
 
$
1,686

 
$
5,523

Variable lease cost
 
72

 
191

Sublease income
 
(104
)
 
(311
)
Finance lease cost
 
 
 
 
Amortization of ROU assets
 
241

 
321

Interest on lease liabilities
 
59

 
79

Total lease cost
 
$
1,954

 
$
5,803

 

The following table summarizes cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities for the nine months ended September 30, 2019:
thousands
 
Operating Leases
 
Finance Leases
Operating cash flows
 
$
5,634

 
$
60

Financing cash flows
 

 
253

 


41

Table of Contents
WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)

11. LEASES (CONTINUED)

The following table reconciles the undiscounted cash flows to the operating and finance lease liabilities at September 30, 2019:
thousands
 
Operating Leases
 
Finance Leases
Remainder of 2019
 
$
1,408

 
$
313

2020
 
1,969

 
7,934

2021
 
612

 

2022
 
618

 

2023
 
625

 

Thereafter
 
1,658

 

Total lease payments
 
6,890

 
8,247

Less portion representing imputed interest
 
702

 
119

Total lease liabilities
 
$
6,188

 
$
8,128



The amounts in the table below represent contractual operating lease commitments at December 31, 2018, that may be assigned or otherwise charged to the Partnership pursuant to the reimbursement provisions of the omnibus agreement:
thousands
 
 
2019
 
$
8,711

2020
 
2,236

2021
 
460

2022
 
467

2023
 
473

Thereafter
 
1,547

Total lease payments
 
$
13,894



12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation and legal proceedings. From time to time, the Partnership is involved in legal, tax, regulatory, and other proceedings in various forums regarding performance, contracts, and other matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. Management is not aware of any such proceeding for which the final disposition could have a material adverse effect on the Partnership’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

Other commitments. The Partnership has short-term payment obligations, or commitments, related to its capital spending programs, and those of its unconsolidated affiliates, the majority of which is expected to be paid in the next twelve months. These commitments primarily relate to construction and expansion projects at the West Texas and DJ Basin complexes, DBM oil system, and DBM water systems.


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Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion analyzes our financial condition and results of operations and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, wherein WES Operating is fully consolidated, which are included under Part I, Item 1 of this quarterly report, and the historical consolidated financial statements, and the notes thereto of WES and WES Operating, which are included under Part II, Item 8 of the 2018 Forms 10-K as filed with the SEC on February 20, 2019, certain sections of which were recast to reflect the results attributable to AMA in WES and WES Operating’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on May 17, 2019.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

We have made in this Form 10-Q, and may from time to time make in other public filings, press releases, and statements by management, forward-looking statements concerning our operations, economic performance, and financial condition. These forward-looking statements include statements preceded by, followed by, or that otherwise include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “projects,” “target,” “goal,” “plans,” “objective,” “should,” or similar expressions or variations on such expressions. These statements discuss future expectations, contain projections of results of operations or financial condition, or include other “forward-looking” information.
Although we and our general partner believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, neither we nor our general partner can give any assurance that such expectations will prove correct. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to, the following:

our ability to pay distributions to our unitholders;

our and Occidental’s assumptions about the energy market;

future throughput (including Occidental production) that is gathered or processed by, or transported through our assets;

our operating results;

competitive conditions;

technology;

the availability of capital resources to fund acquisitions, capital expenditures, and other contractual obligations, and our ability to access those resources from Occidental or through the debt or equity capital markets;

the supply of, demand for, and price of, oil, natural gas, NGLs, and related products or services;

commodity-price risks inherent in percent-of-proceeds, percent-of-product, and keep-whole contracts;

weather and natural disasters;

inflation;

the availability of goods and services;

general economic conditions, internationally, domestically, or in the jurisdictions in which we are doing business;


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federal, state, and local laws and state-approved voter ballot initiatives, including those laws or ballot initiatives that limit Occidental’s and other producers’ hydraulic-fracturing activities or other oil and natural gas development or operations;

environmental liabilities;

legislative or regulatory changes, including changes affecting our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes;

changes in the financial or operational condition of Occidental;

the creditworthiness of Occidental or our other counterparties, including financial institutions, operating partners, and other parties;

changes in Occidental’s capital program, corporate strategy, or other desired areas of focus;

our commitments to capital projects;

our ability to access liquidity under the RCF;

our ability to repay debt;

conflicts of interest among us, our general partner and its affiliates, including Occidental, with respect to, among other things, the allocation of capital and operational and administrative costs, and our future business opportunities;

our ability to maintain and/or obtain rights to operate our assets on land owned by third parties;

our ability to acquire assets on acceptable terms from Occidental or third parties;

non-payment or non-performance of Occidental or other significant customers, including under gathering, processing, transportation, and disposal agreements and the $260.0 million note receivable from Anadarko;

the timing, amount, and terms of future issuances of equity and debt securities;

the outcome of pending and future regulatory, legislative, or other proceedings or investigations, and continued or additional disruptions in operations that may occur as Occidental and we comply with any regulatory orders or other state or local changes in laws or regulations; and

other factors discussed below, in “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Estimates” included in the WES and WES Operating 2018 Forms 10-K, certain sections of which were recast to reflect the results attributable to AMA, in the WES and WES Operating Current Reports on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on May 17, 2019, in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and in our other public filings and press releases.

The risk factors and other factors noted throughout or incorporated by reference in this Form 10-Q could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

We were formed in September 2012 and own (i) a 98.0% limited partner interest in WES Operating, a Delaware limited partnership formed by Anadarko in 2007 to acquire, own, develop, and operate midstream assets, and (ii) all of the outstanding equity interests of WES Operating GP, which holds the entire non-economic general partner interest in WES Operating. Our consolidated financial statements include the consolidated financial results of WES Operating.
We currently own or have investments in assets located in the Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming), North-central Pennsylvania, Texas, and New Mexico. We are engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas; gathering, stabilizing, and transporting condensate, NGLs, and crude oil; and gathering and disposing of produced water. In addition, in our capacity as a natural gas processor, we buy and sell natural gas, NGLs, and condensate on behalf of ourselves and as agent for our customers under certain of our contracts. We provide the above-described midstream services for Occidental and third-party customers. As of September 30, 2019, our assets and investments consisted of the following:
 
 
Wholly
Owned and
Operated
 
Operated
Interests
 
Non-Operated
Interests
 
Equity
Interests
Gathering systems (1)
 
17

 
2

 
3

 
2

Treating facilities
 
35

 
3

 

 
3

Natural gas processing plants/trains
 
24

 
3

 

 
5

NGLs pipelines
 
2

 

 

 
4

Natural gas pipelines
 
5

 

 

 
1

Oil pipelines
 
3

 
1

 

 
3

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Includes the DBM water systems.

Merger transactions. On February 28, 2019, WES, WES Operating, Anadarko, and certain of their affiliates completed the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement and Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) dated November 7, 2018, pursuant to which, among other things, Clarity Merger Sub, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of WES, merged with and into WES Operating, with WES Operating continuing as the surviving entity and as a subsidiary of WES (the “Merger”). In connection with the Merger closing, (i) the common units of WES Operating, which previously traded under the symbol “WES,” ceased to trade on the NYSE, (ii) the common units of WES, which previously traded under the symbol “WGP,” began to trade on the NYSE under the symbol “WES,” (iii) WES changed its name from Western Gas Equity Partners, LP to Western Midstream Partners, LP, and (iv) WES Operating changed its name from Western Gas Partners, LP to Western Midstream Operating, LP.
    

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The Merger Agreement also provided that WES, WES Operating, and Anadarko cause their respective affiliates to execute the following transactions, among others, immediately prior to the Merger becoming effective in the following order: (1) Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC and WGR Asset Holding Company LLC (“WGRAH”) (the “Contributing Parties”) contribute to WES Operating, and WES Operating subsequently contributes to WGR Operating, LP, Kerr-McGee Gathering LLC, and DBM (each wholly owned by WES Operating), all of their interests in each of Anadarko Wattenberg Oil Complex LLC, Anadarko DJ Oil Pipeline LLC, Anadarko DJ Gas Processing LLC, Wamsutter Pipeline LLC, DBM Oil Services, LLC, Anadarko Pecos Midstream LLC, Anadarko Mi Vida LLC, and APC Water Holdings 1, LLC (“APCWH”) in exchange for aggregate consideration of $1.814 billion of cash, less the outstanding amount payable pursuant to an intercompany note (the “APCWH Note Payable”) assumed by WES Operating in connection with the transfer, and 45,760,201 WES Operating common units; (2) AMH transfers its interests in Saddlehorn Pipeline Company, LLC, and Panola Pipeline Company, LLC to WES Operating in exchange for $193.9 million of cash; (3) WES Operating contributes cash in an amount equal to the outstanding balance of the APCWH Note Payable immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger to APCWH, which in turn uses the contributed cash to satisfy the APCWH Note Payable to Anadarko; (4) the WES Operating Class C units convert into WES Operating common units on a one-for-one basis; and (5) WES Operating and WES Operating GP convert the IDRs and the 2,583,068 general partner units in WES Operating held by WES Operating GP into a non-economic general partner interest in WES Operating and 105,624,704 WES Operating common units. The 45,760,201 WES Operating common units issued to the Contributing Parties, less 6,375,284 WES Operating common units retained by WGRAH, convert into the right to receive an aggregate of 55,360,984 common units of WES upon Merger completion. Each WES Operating common unit issued and outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Merger (other than WES Operating common units owned by WES and WES Operating GP, and certain common units held by subsidiaries of Anadarko) converts into the right to receive 1.525 common units of WES. See Note 10—Debt and Interest Expense in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for additional information.
    
Significant financial and operational events during the nine months ended September 30, 2019, included the following:

We increased our per-unit distribution to $0.62000 for the third quarter of 2019, representing a 0.3% increase over the second-quarter 2019 distribution and a 4% increase over the third-quarter 2018 distribution.

In July 2019, WES Operating entered into an amendment to the Term loan facility to (i) extend the maturity date from February 2020 to December 2020, and (ii) to increase the commitments available under the Term loan facility from $2.0 billion to $3.0 billion, the incremental $1.0 billion of which was subsequently drawn by WES Operating on September 13, 2019, and used to repay outstanding borrowings under the RCF. See Liquidity and Capital Resources within this Item 2 for additional information.

In March 2019, WES Operating entered into additional interest-rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $375.0 million. See Liquidity and Capital Resources within this Item 2 for additional information.

In March 2019, the WGP RCF matured and the outstanding borrowings were repaid. See Liquidity and Capital Resources within this Item 2 for additional information.

We commenced operations of Mentone Train II at the West Texas complex (with capacity of 200 MMcf/d) at the end of the first quarter of 2019.

In February 2019, WES Operating increased the size of the RCF from $1.5 billion to $2.0 billion and extended the maturity date of the RCF to February 2024. See Liquidity and Capital Resources within this Item 2 for additional information.

In January 2019, we acquired a 30% interest in Red Bluff Express from a third party. See Acquisitions and Divestitures within this Item 2 for additional information.

Natural gas throughput attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP totaled 4,199 MMcf/d and 4,225 MMcf/d for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, representing a 6% and 9% increase, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2018.

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Crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water throughput attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP totaled 1,191 MBbls/d and 1,134 MBbls/d for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, representing a 28% and 67% increase, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2018.

Operating income (loss) was $268.7 million and $897.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, representing a 4% and 50% increase, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2018.

Adjusted gross margin for natural gas assets (as defined under the caption Key Performance Metrics within this Item 2) averaged $1.04 per Mcf and $1.06 per Mcf for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, representing a 1% and 7% increase, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2018.

Adjusted gross margin for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets (as defined under the caption Key Performance Metrics within this Item 2) averaged $1.81 per Bbl and $1.80 per Bbl for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, representing a 7% and 3% increase, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2018.

The following tables provide additional information on throughput for the periods presented below:
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
 
Natural gas
(MMcf/d)
 
Crude oil & NGLs
(MBbls/d)
 
Produced water
(MBbls/d)
Delaware Basin
 
1,272


1,096

 
16
 %
 
147


138

 
7
 %
 
580


361

 
61
%
DJ Basin
 
1,124


1,119

 
 %
 
128


103

 
24
 %
 



 
%
Equity investments
 
391


301

 
30
 %
 
307


290

 
6
 %
 



 
%
Other
 
1,584


1,603

 
(1
)%
 
53


61

 
(13
)%
 



 
%
Total throughput
 
4,371

 
4,119

 
6
 %
 
635

 
592

 
7
 %
 
580

 
361

 
61
%
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
 
Natural gas
(MMcf/d)
 
Crude oil & NGLs
(MBbls/d)
 
Produced water
(MBbls/d)
Delaware Basin
 
1,210

 
1,020

 
19
 %
 
144

 
126

 
14
 %
 
538

 
180

 
199
%
DJ Basin
 
1,216

 
1,115

 
9
 %
 
114

 
104

 
10
 %
 

 

 
%
Equity investments
 
390

 
297

 
31
 %
 
308

 
222

 
39
 %
 

 

 
%
Other
 
1,584

 
1,602

 
(1
)%
 
53

 
60

 
(12
)%
 

 

 
%
Total throughput
 
4,400

 
4,034

 
9
 %
 
619

 
512

 
21
 %
 
538

 
180

 
199
%

Occidental Merger. On August 8, 2019, Anadarko, the indirect general partner and majority unitholder of WES, was acquired by Occidental pursuant to the Occidental Merger.

ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

AMA acquisition. In February 2019, WES Operating acquired AMA from Anadarko. See Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation and Note 3—Acquisitions and Divestitures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for further information.


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Red Bluff Express acquisition. In January 2019, we acquired a 30% interest in Red Bluff Express, which owns a natural gas pipeline operated by a third party connecting processing plants in Reeves and Loving Counties, Texas, to the WAHA hub in Pecos County, Texas. We acquired our 30% interest from a third party via an initial net investment of $92.5 million, which represented our share of costs incurred up to the date of acquisition. The initial investment was funded with cash on hand and the interest in Red Bluff Express is accounted for under the equity method.

Whitethorn LLC acquisition. In June 2018, we acquired a 20% interest in Whitethorn LLC, which owns a crude oil and condensate pipeline that originates in Midland, Texas, and terminates in Sealy, Texas (the “Midland-to-Sealy pipeline”) and related storage facilities (collectively referred to as “Whitethorn”). A third party operates Whitethorn and oversees the related commercial activities. In connection with our investment in Whitethorn LLC, we share proportionally in the commercial activities. We acquired our 20% interest via a $150.6 million net investment, which was funded with cash on hand and is accounted for under the equity method.

Cactus II acquisition. In June 2018, we acquired a 15% interest in Cactus II, which owns a crude oil pipeline operated by a third party (the “Cactus II pipeline”) connecting West Texas to the Corpus Christi area. The Cactus II pipeline began delivering crude oil during the third quarter of 2019 and is expected to become fully operational in the first quarter of 2020. We acquired our 15% interest from a third party via an initial net investment of $12.1 million, which represented our share of costs incurred up to the date of acquisition. The initial investment was funded with cash on hand and the interest in Cactus II is accounted for under the equity method.

Newcastle system divestiture. In December 2018, the Newcastle system, located in Northeast Wyoming, was sold to a third party for $3.2 million, resulting in a net gain on sale of $0.6 million recorded as Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations. We previously held a 50% interest in, and operated, the Newcastle system.

Presentation of the Partnership’s assets. The Partnership’s assets include assets owned and ownership interests accounted for under the equity method by us, through our partnership interests in WES Operating as of September 30, 2019 (see Note 8—Equity Investments in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q). We own the entire non-economic general partner interest in and control WES Operating GP, and our general partner is controlled by Occidental; therefore, prior asset acquisitions from Anadarko have been classified as transfers of net assets between entities under common control. As such, assets acquired from Anadarko were initially recorded at Anadarko’s historic carrying value, which did not equate to the total acquisition price paid by us. Further, subsequent to asset acquisitions from Anadarko, we were required to recast our financial statements to include the activities of acquired assets from the date of common control.
For reporting periods requiring recast, the consolidated financial statements for periods prior to the acquisition of assets from Anadarko are prepared from Anadarko’s historical cost-basis accounts and may not be necessarily indicative of the actual results of operations that would have occurred if we had owned the assets during the periods reported. For ease of reference, we refer to the historical financial results of the Partnership’s assets prior to the acquisitions from Anadarko as being “our” historical financial results.

EQUITY OFFERINGS

See Note 5—Equity and Partners’ Capital in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for additional information.

WES common units. In February 2019, we issued 234,053,065 common units in connection with the Merger closing. See Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation and Note 5—Equity and Partners’ Capital in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for additional information.

WES Operating common units. In February 2019, WES Operating (i) converted the IDRs and general partner units into 105,624,704 common units in connection with the Merger closing, and (ii) issued 45,760,201 common units as part of the AMA acquisition.

WES Operating Class C units. All outstanding Class C units converted into WES Operating common units on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to the Merger closing.


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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OPERATING RESULTS

The following tables and discussion present a summary of our results of operations:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Total revenues and other (1)
 
$
666,027

 
$
587,900

 
$
2,022,964

 
$
1,607,032

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
53,893

 
54,215

 
175,483

 
133,874

Total operating expenses (1)
 
451,443

 
384,626

 
1,299,331

 
1,144,622

Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net
 
248

 
65

 
(1,403
)
 
351

Operating income (loss)
 
268,725

 
257,554

 
897,713

 
596,635

Interest income – affiliates
 
4,225

 
4,225

 
12,675

 
12,675

Interest expense
 
(78,524
)
 
(48,869
)
 
(223,872
)
 
(129,129
)
Other income (expense), net
 
(67,894
)
 
655

 
(161,577
)
 
2,749

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
126,532

 
213,565

 
524,939

 
482,930

Income tax (benefit) expense
 
1,309

 
15,005

 
12,679

 
36,193

Net income (loss)
 
125,223

 
198,560

 
512,260

 
446,737

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
4,006

 
47,203

 
102,789

 
63,669

Net income (loss) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP (2)
 
$
121,217

 
$
151,357

 
$
409,471

 
$
383,068

Key performance metrics (3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted gross margin
 
$
599,644

 
$
521,428

 
$
1,783,814

 
$
1,371,135

Adjusted EBITDA
 
410,213

 
385,819

 
1,271,463

 
1,009,103

Distributable cash flow
 
304,384

 
308,270

 
980,037

 
821,479

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Revenues and other include amounts earned from services provided to our affiliates, and from the sale of residue and NGLs to our affiliates. Operating expenses include amounts charged by our affiliates for services, and reimbursements of amounts paid by affiliates to third parties on our behalf. See Note 6—Transactions with Affiliates in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
(2) 
For reconciliations to comparable consolidated results of WES Operating, see Items Affecting the Comparability of Financial Results with WES Operating within this Item 2.
(3) 
Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Distributable cash flow are defined under the caption Key Performance Metrics within this Item 2. For reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, see Key Performance Metrics—Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures within this Item 2.

For purposes of the following discussion, any increases or decreases “for the three months ended September 30, 2019” refer to the comparison of the three months ended September 30, 2019, to the three months ended September 30, 2018; any increases or decreases “for the nine months ended September 30, 2019” refer to the comparison of the nine months ended September 30, 2019, to the nine months ended September 30, 2018; and any increases or decreases “for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019” refer to the comparison of these 2019 periods to the corresponding three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2018.


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Throughput
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,

 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Throughput for natural gas assets (MMcf/d)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gathering, treating, and transportation
 
523

 
545

 
(4
)%
 
526

 
531

 
(1
)%
Processing
 
3,458

 
3,273

 
6
 %
 
3,484

 
3,206

 
9
 %
Equity investment (1)
 
390

 
301

 
30
 %
 
390

 
297

 
31
 %
Total throughput for natural gas assets
 
4,371

 
4,119

 
6
 %
 
4,400

 
4,034

 
9
 %
Throughput attributable to noncontrolling interests for natural gas assets (2)
 
172

 
168

 
2
 %
 
175

 
171

 
2
 %
Total throughput attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP for natural gas assets
 
4,199

 
3,951

 
6
 %
 
4,225

 
3,863

 
9
 %
Throughput for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets (MBbls/d)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gathering, treating, transportation, and disposal
 
908

 
663

 
37
 %
 
849

 
470

 
81
 %
Equity investment (3)
 
307

 
290

 
6
 %
 
308

 
222

 
39
 %
Total throughput for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets
 
1,215

 
953

 
27
 %
 
1,157

 
692

 
67
 %
Throughput attributable to noncontrolling interests for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets (2)
 
24

 
19

 
26
 %
 
23

 
14

 
64
 %
Total throughput attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets
 
1,191

 
934

 
28
 %
 
1,134

 
678

 
67
 %
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Represents the 14.81% share of average Fort Union throughput, 22% share of average Rendezvous throughput, 50% share of average Mi Vida and Ranch Westex throughput, and 30% share of average Red Bluff Express throughput.
(2) 
For all periods presented, includes (i) the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta and (ii) the 2.0% Occidental subsidiary-owned limited partner interest in WES Operating, which collectively represent WES’s noncontrolling interests as of September 30, 2019. For a discussion of the impact to noncontrolling interests as a result of the Merger closing, see Noncontrolling interests within Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
(3) 
Represents the 10% share of average White Cliffs throughput; 25% share of average Mont Belvieu JV throughput; 20% share of average TEG, TEP, Whitethorn, and Saddlehorn throughput; 33.33% share of average FRP throughput; and 15% share of average Panola throughput.

Natural gas assets

Gathering, treating, and transportation throughput decreased by 22 MMcf/d and 5 MMcf/d for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, primarily due to production declines in areas around the Springfield gas gathering system, partially offset by increased production in areas around the Marcellus Interest systems. In addition, for the three months ended September 30, 2019, throughput decreased at the Bison facility due to production declines in the area.
Processing throughput increased by 185 MMcf/d and 278 MMcf/d for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, primarily due to (i) the start-up of Mentone Trains I and II at the West Texas complex in November 2018 and March 2019, respectively, and (ii) increased production in areas around the West Texas and DJ Basin complexes. These increases were partially offset by downstream constraints during the third quarter of 2019 that impacted our DJ Basin complex.

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Equity investment throughput increased by 89 MMcf/d and 93 MMcf/d for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, primarily due to the acquisition of the interest in Red Bluff Express in January 2019, partially offset by decreased throughput at the Mi Vida and Ranch Westex plants due to affiliate volumes being diverted to the West Texas complex for processing following the start-up of Mentone Trains I and II in November 2018 and March 2019, respectively.

Crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets

Gathering, treating, transportation, and disposal throughput increased by 245 MBbls/d and 379 MBbls/d for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, primarily due to (i) increased throughput at the DBM water systems due to new water disposal systems that commenced operations during the third and fourth quarters of 2018, (ii) increased production in areas around the DJ Basin oil system, and (iii) increased throughput at the DBM oil system due to the ROTFs that commenced operations in the second quarter of 2018 and increased production in the area.
Equity investment throughput increased by 17 MBbls/d and 86 MBbls/d for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, primarily due to (i) the acquisition of the interest in Whitethorn LLC in June 2018 and increased volumes on the Whitethorn pipeline due to additional committed volumes in 2019, and (ii) increased volumes on the Saddlehorn pipeline due to incentive tariffs and additional committed volumes effective beginning in the third quarter of 2019. For the three months ended September 30, 2019, these increases were partially offset by lower volumes on TEP due to the start-up of a competing third-party NGLs pipeline within the same region in the first quarter of 2019.

Service Revenues
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Service revenues – fee based
 
$
587,965

 
$
486,329

 
21
 %
 
$
1,761,483

 
$
1,311,963

 
34
 %
Service revenues – product based
 
9,476

 
23,336

 
(59
)%
 
45,530

 
69,421

 
(34
)%
 Total service revenues
 
$
597,441

 
$
509,665

 
17
 %
 
$
1,807,013

 
$
1,381,384

 
31
 %

Service revenues – fee based increased by $101.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to increases of (i) $60.1 million at the West Texas complex due to increased throughput and a higher gathering fee effective January 2019, (ii) $18.5 million at the DBM water systems due to increased throughput, (iii) $16.3 million at the DJ Basin oil system due to increased throughput and a higher gathering fee due to a cost of service rate adjustment made during the fourth quarter of 2018, and (iv) $10.0 million at the DBM oil system due to increased throughput.
Service revenues – fee based increased by $449.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to increases of (i) $224.2 million at the West Texas complex due to increased throughput and a higher gathering fee effective January 2019, (ii) $90.5 million at the DBM water systems due to increased throughput and new gathering and disposal agreements effective July 1, 2018, (iii) $46.9 million at the DJ Basin complex due to increased throughput, (iv) $43.6 million at the DJ Basin oil system due to increased throughput and a higher gathering fee due to a cost of service rate adjustment made during the fourth quarter of 2018, and (v) $41.5 million at the DBM oil system due to increased throughput and a higher average gathering fee due to a new agreement effective May 2018.
Service revenues – product based decreased by $13.9 million and $23.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, primarily due to (i) a third-party producer contract termination at the West Texas complex at the end of the first quarter of 2019 and (ii) a decrease in pricing across several systems.


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Product Sales
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages and
per-unit amounts
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Natural gas sales (1)
 
$
13,358

 
$
20,763

 
(36
)%
 
$
48,909

 
$
62,825

 
(22
)%
NGLs sales (1)
 
54,890

 
56,236

 
(2
)%
 
165,941

 
161,114

 
3
 %
Total Product sales
 
$
68,248

 
$
76,999

 
(11
)%
 
$
214,850

 
$
223,939

 
(4
)%
Gross average sales price per unit (1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural gas (per Mcf)
 
$
1.29

 
$
2.03

 
(36
)%
 
$
1.61

 
$
2.17

 
(26
)%
NGLs (per Bbl)
 
16.76

 
35.61

 
(53
)%
 
20.91

 
32.73

 
(36
)%
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, includes the effects of commodity-price swap agreements for the MGR assets and DJ Basin complex, excluding the amounts considered above market with respect to these swap agreements that were recorded as capital contributions in the consolidated statement of equity and partners’ capital. See Note 6—Transactions with Affiliates in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Natural gas sales decreased by $7.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to decreases of (i) $4.9 million at the West Texas complex due to a decrease in average price, partially offset by an increase in volumes sold, and (ii) $2.5 million at the DJ Basin complex due to a decrease in average price and volumes sold.
Natural gas sales decreased by $13.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to a decrease of $26.6 million at the West Texas complex due to a decrease in average price, partially offset by an increase in volumes sold. This decrease was partially offset by an increase of $13.9 million at the Hilight system primarily due to the reversal of a portion of an accrual for anticipated product-purchase costs recorded in 2018 associated with the shutdown of the Kitty Draw gathering system (see Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q).
NGLs sales decreased by $1.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to decreases of $4.6 million, $4.2 million, and $4.0 million at the MGR assets, Chipeta complex, and DJ Basin complex, respectively, due to decreases in average prices and volumes sold. These decreases were offset by increases of (i) $7.1 million at the West Texas complex due to an increase in volumes sold, partially offset by a decrease in average price, and (ii) $3.7 million related to the expiration of the commodity-price swap agreements in December 2018.
NGLs sales increased by $4.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to increases of (i) $11.5 million and $2.1 million at the DJ Basin and West Texas complexes, respectively, due to increases in volumes sold, partially offset by decreases in average prices, (ii) $5.9 million related to the expiration of the commodity-price swap agreements in December 2018, and (iii) $3.9 million at the DBM water systems due to an increase in volumes sold related to byproducts from the treatment of produced water. These increases were partially offset by decreases of (i) $10.2 million and $5.6 million at the MGR assets and Chipeta complex, respectively, due to decreases in average prices and volumes sold and (ii) $5.8 million at the Granger complex due to a decrease in average price, partially offset by an increase in volumes sold.

Equity Income, Net – Affiliates
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Equity income, net – affiliates
 
$
53,893

 
$
54,215

 
(1
)%
 
$
175,483

 
$
133,874

 
31
%

Equity income, net – affiliates increased by $41.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to (i) the acquisition of the interest in Whitethorn LLC in June 2018 and (ii) increased volumes at FRP and the Saddlehorn pipeline. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in deficiency fees and volumes at TEP.


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Table of Contents

Cost of Product and Operation and Maintenance Expenses
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
NGLs purchases
 
$
76,785

 
$
72,526

 
6
 %
 
$
252,460

 
$
207,086

 
22
 %
Residue purchases
 
18,300

 
32,123

 
(43
)%
 
69,920

 
88,697

 
(21
)%
Other
 
2,715

 
(3,614
)
 
(175
)%
 
12,360

 
(4,774
)
 
NM

Cost of product
 
97,800

 
101,035

 
(3
)%
 
334,740

 
291,009

 
15
 %
Operation and maintenance
 
176,572

 
129,042

 
37
 %
 
467,832

 
338,626

 
38
 %
Total Cost of product and Operation and maintenance expenses
 
$
274,372

 
$
230,077

 
19
 %
 
$
802,572

 
$
629,635

 
27
 %
                                                                                                                                                                                    
NMNot Meaningful

NGL purchases increased by $4.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to an increase of $11.1 million at the West Texas complex due to an increase in volumes purchased, partially offset by a decrease in average price. This increase was partially offset by decreases of $3.9 million and $3.0 million at the Chipeta and DJ Basin complexes, respectively, due to decreases in average prices and volumes purchased.
NGL purchases increased by $45.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to increases of (i) $51.4 million at the West Texas complex primarily due to an increase in volumes purchased, (ii) $6.3 million at the DJ Basin complex due to an increase in volumes purchased, partially offset by a decrease in average price, and (iii) $3.9 million at the DBM water systems due to an increase in volumes purchased related to byproducts from the treatment of produced water. These increases were partially offset by decreases of (i) $7.5 million and $6.4 million at the MGR assets and Chipeta complex, respectively, due to decreases in average prices and volumes purchased and (ii) $5.0 million at the Granger complex due to a decrease in average price, partially offset by an increase in volumes purchased.
Residue purchases decreased by $13.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to decreases of (i) $8.5 million at the West Texas complex due to a decrease in average price, partially offset by an increase in volumes purchased, and (ii) $1.9 million at the DJ Basin complex due to decreases in average price and volumes purchased.
Residue purchases decreased by $18.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to a decrease of $18.4 million at the West Texas complex due to a decrease in average price, partially offset by an increase in volumes purchased. This decrease was partially offset by an increase of $3.8 million at the DJ Basin complex due to an increase in volumes purchased, partially offset by a decrease in average price.
Other items increased by $6.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to an increase of $9.0 million at the West Texas complex due to changes in imbalance positions, partially offset by a decrease of $2.2 million at the Granger complex due to reduced fees recorded in the third quarter of 2019.
Other items increased by $17.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to increases of (i) $11.7 million at the West Texas complex due to changes in imbalance positions and (ii) $4.0 million at the DJ Basin complex due to an increase in transportation costs.
Operation and maintenance expense increased by $47.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to increases of (i) $17.0 million at the DBM water systems due to new water disposal systems that commenced operations during the third and fourth quarters of 2018 and higher surface-use fees, and (ii) $12.8 million, $9.2 million, and $3.5 million at the West Texas complex, DJ Basin complex, and DBM oil system, respectively, all due to increases in surface maintenance and plant repairs, salaries and wages, and utilities expense.
Operation and maintenance expense increased by $129.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to increases of (i) $48.5 million at the DBM water systems due to new water disposal systems that commenced operations during the third and fourth quarters of 2018 and higher surface-use fees, (ii) $29.6 million, $20.6 million, and $15.6 million at the West Texas complex, DJ Basin complex, and DBM oil system, respectively, due to increases in surface maintenance and plant repairs, salaries and wages, utilities expense, and contract labor and consulting services, (iii) $4.0 million at the DJ Basin oil system due to increases in surface maintenance and plant repairs, salaries and wages, and utilities expense, and (iv) $4.0 million at the Springfield system due to increases in surface maintenance and plant repairs and contract labor and consulting services.

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Table of Contents

Other Operating Expenses
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
General and administrative (1)
 
$
30,769

 
$
16,022

 
92
 %
 
$
83,640

 
$
47,448

 
76
 %
Property and other taxes
 
15,281

 
13,146

 
16
 %
 
45,848

 
41,496

 
10
 %
Depreciation and amortization
 
127,914

 
97,479

 
31
 %
 
362,977

 
270,757

 
34
 %
Impairments
 
3,107

 
27,902

 
(89
)%
 
4,294

 
155,286

 
(97
)%
Total other operating expenses
 
$
177,071

 
$
154,549

 
15
 %
 
$
496,759

 
$
514,987

 
(4
)%
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Includes general and administrative expense incurred on and subsequent to the date of the acquisition of assets from Anadarko, and a management services fee for expenses incurred by Anadarko for periods prior to the acquisition of such assets.

General and administrative expenses increased by $14.7 million and $36.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, primarily due to increases of (i) $13.4 million and $32.0 million, respectively, of personnel costs for which we reimbursed Occidental pursuant to our omnibus agreements, primarily as a result of the rate-redetermination provisions in our omnibus agreements with Occidental, which resulted in a 30% increase in reimbursements for general and administrative expenses incurred on our behalf, which took effect January 1, 2019, and (ii) $2.5 million and $4.4 million, respectively, of expenses related to equity awards.
Property and other taxes increased by $2.1 million and $4.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, primarily due to ad valorem tax increases at the West Texas complex due to the start-up of Mentone Trains I and II in November 2018 and March 2019, respectively.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $30.4 million and $92.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, primarily due to increases of (i) $7.7 million and $30.4 million, respectively, at the West Texas complex, (ii) $6.8 million and $21.8 million, respectively, at the DBM water systems, (iii) $6.5 million and $16.8 million, respectively, at the DJ Basin complex, and (iv) $2.3 million and $12.1 million, respectively, at the DBM oil system, all due to capital projects being placed into service. In addition, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, there was an increase of $4.4 million at the Hilight system due to an acceleration of depreciation expense. For further information regarding capital projects, see Liquidity and Capital Resources—Capital expenditures within this Item 2.
Impairment expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, was primarily due to impairments of $2.5 million and $3.3 million, respectively, at the DJ Basin complex. For further information on impairment expense, see Note 7—Property, Plant, and Equipment in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Impairment expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, was primarily due to impairments of (i) $5.1 million and $125.9 million, respectively, at the Third Creek gathering system and $1.7 million and $8.1 million, respectively, at the Kitty Draw gathering system (see Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q), (ii) $10.9 million at the GNB NGL pipeline, (iii) $5.6 million at the Chipeta complex, and (iv) $2.6 million at the DBM oil system.


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Table of Contents

Interest Income – Affiliates and Interest Expense
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Note receivable – Anadarko
 
$
4,225

 
$
4,225

 
 %
 
$
12,675

 
$
12,675

 
 %
Interest income – affiliates
 
$
4,225

 
$
4,225

 
 %
 
$
12,675

 
$
12,675

 
 %
Third parties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
 
$
(83,712
)
 
$
(53,229
)
 
57
 %
 
$
(233,432
)
 
$
(143,436
)
 
63
 %
Amortization of debt issuance costs and commitment fees
 
(3,139
)
 
(2,054
)
 
53
 %
 
(9,461
)
 
(6,955
)
 
36
 %
Capitalized interest
 
8,386

 
8,449

 
(1
)%
 
20,933

 
25,283

 
(17
)%
Affiliates
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
APCWH Note Payable
 

 
(2,035
)
 
(100
)%
 
(1,833
)
 
(4,021
)
 
(54
)%
Finance lease liabilities
 
(59
)
 

 
NM

 
(79
)
 

 
NM

Interest expense
 
$
(78,524
)
 
$
(48,869
)
 
61
 %
 
$
(223,872
)
 
$
(129,129
)
 
73
 %

Interest expense increased by $29.7 million and $94.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, primarily due to (i) $21.0 million and $49.8 million, respectively, of interest incurred on the Term loan facility entered into in December 2018, (ii) $4.1 million and $23.4 million, respectively, of interest incurred on the 4.750% Senior Notes due 2028 and 5.500% Senior Notes due 2048 that were issued in August 2018, and (iii) $8.0 million and $17.1 million, respectively, due to higher outstanding borrowings on the RCF in 2019. In addition, for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, interest expense increased $9.5 million due to interest incurred on the 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028 and 5.300% Senior Notes due 2048 that were issued in March 2018.

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Table of Contents

Other Income (Expense), Net
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Other income (expense), net
 
$
(67,894
)
 
$
655

 
NM
 
$
(161,577
)
 
$
2,749

 
NM

Other income (expense), net decreased by $68.5 million and $164.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, primarily due to non-cash losses of $68.3 million and $162.9 million, respectively, on interest-rate swaps resulting from a decrease in benchmark interest rates. See Note 10—Debt and Interest Expense in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for additional information.

Income Tax (Benefit) Expense
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Income (loss) before income taxes
 
$
126,532

 
$
213,565

 
(41
)%
 
$
524,939

 
$
482,930

 
9
 %
Income tax (benefit) expense
 
1,309

 
15,005

 
(91
)%
 
12,679

 
36,193

 
(65
)%
Effective tax rate
 
1
%
 
7
%
 
 
 
2
%
 
7
%
 
 

We are not a taxable entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, our income apportionable to Texas is subject to Texas margin tax. For the periods presented, the variance from the federal statutory rate, which is zero percent as a non-taxable entity, is primarily due to federal and state taxes on pre-acquisition income attributable to assets previously acquired from Anadarko, and our share of Texas margin tax.
Income attributable to the AMA assets prior to and including February 2019 was subject to federal and state income tax. Income earned on the AMA assets for periods subsequent to February 2019 was only subject to Texas margin tax on income apportionable to Texas.

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Table of Contents

KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages and per-unit amounts
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2019
 
2018
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Adjusted gross margin for natural gas assets (1)
 
$
401,380

 
$
376,131

 
7
 %
 
$
1,226,302

 
$
1,048,185

 
17
%
Adjusted gross margin for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets (2)
 
198,264

 
145,297

 
36
 %
 
557,512

 
322,950

 
73
%
Adjusted gross margin (3)
 
599,644

 
521,428

 
15
 %
 
1,783,814

 
1,371,135

 
30
%
Adjusted gross margin per Mcf for natural gas assets (4)
 
1.04

 
1.03

 
1
 %
 
1.06

 
0.99

 
7
%
Adjusted gross margin per Bbl for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets (5)
 
1.81

 
1.69

 
7
 %
 
1.80

 
1.75

 
3
%
Adjusted EBITDA (3)
 
410,213

 
385,819

 
6
 %
 
1,271,463

 
1,009,103

 
26
%
Distributable cash flow (3)
 
304,384

 
308,270

 
(1
)%
 
980,037

 
821,479

 
19
%
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Adjusted gross margin for natural gas assets is calculated as total revenues and other for natural gas assets (less reimbursements for electricity-related expenses recorded as revenue), less cost of product for natural gas assets, plus distributions from our equity investments, and excluding the noncontrolling interests owners’ proportionate share of revenues and cost of product. See the reconciliation of Adjusted gross margin for natural gas assets to its most comparable GAAP measure below.
(2) 
Adjusted gross margin for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets is calculated as total revenues and other for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets (less reimbursements for electricity-related expenses recorded as revenue), less cost of product for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets, plus distributions from our equity investments, and excluding the noncontrolling interests owners’ proportionate share of revenues and cost of product. See the reconciliation of Adjusted gross margin for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets to its most comparable GAAP measure below.
(3) 
For a reconciliation of Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Distributable cash flow to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, see the descriptions below.
(4) 
Average for period. Calculated as Adjusted gross margin for natural gas assets, divided by total throughput (MMcf/d) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP for natural gas assets.
(5) 
Average for period. Calculated as Adjusted gross margin for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets, divided by total throughput (MBbls/d) attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets.

Adjusted gross margin. We define Adjusted gross margin attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP (“Adjusted gross margin”) as total revenues and other (less reimbursements for electricity-related expenses recorded as revenue), less cost of product, plus distributions from equity investments, and excluding the noncontrolling interests owners’ proportionate share of revenues and cost of product. We believe Adjusted gross margin is an important performance measure of the core profitability of our operations and our operating performance as compared to that of other companies in the midstream industry.
Adjusted gross margin increased by $78.2 million and $412.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, primarily due to (i) increased throughput at the West Texas complex, (ii) the start-up of new water disposal systems during the third and fourth quarters of 2018, (iii) increased throughput and a higher gathering fee due to a cost of service rate adjustment made during the fourth quarter of 2018 at the DJ Basin oil system, (iv) increased throughput and a higher average gathering fee due to a new agreement effective May 2018 at the DBM oil system, and (v) the acquisition of the interest in Whitethorn LLC in June 2018 and increased volumes on the Whitethorn pipeline. In addition, Adjusted gross margin increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, due to increased throughput at the DJ Basin complex.
To facilitate investor and industry analyst comparisons between us and our peers, we also disclose Adjusted gross margin per Mcf for natural gas assets and Adjusted gross margin per Bbl for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets.
Adjusted gross margin per Mcf for natural gas assets increased by $0.01 and $0.07 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, primarily due to increased throughput at the West Texas complex, which has a higher-than-average per-Mcf margin as compared to our other natural gas assets.
    

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Table of Contents

Adjusted gross margin per Bbl for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets increased by $0.12 and $0.05 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, primarily due to (i) increased throughput and a higher gathering fee due to a cost of service rate adjustment made during the fourth quarter of 2018 at the DJ Basin oil system, (ii) increased throughput and a higher average gathering fee due to a new agreement effective May 2018 at the DBM oil system, and (iii) the acquisition of the interest in Whitethorn LLC in June 2018 and increased volumes on the Whitethorn pipeline. These increases were partially offset by increased throughput at the DBM water systems, which has a lower per-Bbl margin than our other crude oil and NGLs assets.

Adjusted EBITDA. We define Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Western Midstream Partners, LP (“Adjusted EBITDA”) as net income (loss), plus distributions from equity investments, non-cash equity-based compensation expense, interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, impairments, and other expense (including lower of cost or market inventory adjustments recorded in cost of product), less gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net, income from equity investments, interest income, income tax benefit, other income, and the noncontrolling interests owners’ proportionate share of revenues and expenses. We believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA provides information useful to investors in assessing our financial condition and results of operations and that Adjusted EBITDA is a widely accepted financial indicator of a company’s ability to incur and service debt, fund capital expenditures, and make distributions. Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental financial measure that management and external users of our consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, commercial banks, and rating agencies, use to assess the following, among other measures:

our operating performance as compared to other publicly traded partnerships in the midstream industry, without regard to financing methods, capital structure, or historical cost basis;

the ability of our assets to generate cash flow to make distributions; and

the viability of acquisitions and capital expenditure projects and the returns on investment of various investment opportunities.

Adjusted EBITDA increased by $24.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to (i) an increase of $78.1 million in total revenues and other, (ii) an increase of $4.5 million in distributions from equity investments, and (iii) a decrease of $3.3 million in cost of product (net of lower of cost or market inventory adjustments). These amounts were partially offset by (i) an increase of $47.5 million in operation and maintenance expenses and (ii) an increase of $12.2 million in general and administrative expenses excluding non-cash equity-based compensation expense.
Adjusted EBITDA increased by $262.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to (i) an increase of $415.9 million in total revenues and other and (ii) an increase of $57.9 million in distributions from equity investments. These amounts were partially offset by (i) an increase of $129.2 million in operation and maintenance expenses, (ii) an increase of $43.7 million in cost of product (net of lower of cost or market inventory adjustments), and (iii) an increase of $31.7 million in general and administrative expenses excluding non-cash equity-based compensation expense.

Distributable cash flow. We define “Distributable cash flow” as Adjusted EBITDA, plus interest income and the net settlement amounts from the sale and/or purchase of natural gas, condensate, and NGLs under WES Operating’s commodity-price swap agreements to the extent such amounts are not recognized as Adjusted EBITDA, less Service revenues – fee based recognized in Adjusted EBITDA in excess of (less than) customer billings, net cash paid (or to be paid) for interest expense (including amortization of deferred debt issuance costs originally paid in cash, offset by non-cash capitalized interest), maintenance capital expenditures, income taxes, and Distributable cash flow attributable to noncontrolling interests to the extent such amounts are not excluded from Adjusted EBITDA. We compare Distributable cash flow to the cash distributions we expect to pay our unitholders. Using this measure, management can quickly compute the Coverage ratio of Distributable cash flow to planned cash distributions. We believe Distributable cash flow is useful to investors because this measurement is used by many companies, analysts, and others in the industry as a performance measurement tool to evaluate our operating and financial performance and compare it with the performance of other publicly traded partnerships.

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While Distributable cash flow is a measure we use to assess our ability to make distributions to our unitholders, it should not be viewed as indicative of the actual amount of cash that we have available for distributions or that we plan to distribute for a given period. Furthermore, to the extent Distributable cash flow includes realized amounts recorded as capital contributions from Anadarko attributable to activity under our commodity-price swap agreements, it is not a reflection of our ability to generate cash from operations.
Distributable cash flow decreased by $3.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to (i) an increase of $29.6 million in net cash paid for interest expense and (ii) a decrease of $12.6 million in the above-market component of the swap agreements with Anadarko. These amounts were partially offset by (i) an increase of $24.4 million in Adjusted EBITDA, (ii) $9.9 million of customer billings in excess of the amount recognized as Service revenues - fee based, and (iii) a decrease of $3.3 million in cash paid for maintenance capital expenditures.
Distributable cash flow increased by $158.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to (i) an increase of $262.4 million in Adjusted EBITDA and (ii) $31.2 million of customer billings in excess of the amount recognized as Service revenues - fee based. These amounts were partially offset by (i) an increase of $90.4 million in net cash paid for interest expense, (ii) a decrease of $33.3 million in the above-market component of the swap agreements with Anadarko, and (iii) an increase of $13.4 million in cash paid for maintenance capital expenditures.

Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures. Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow are not defined in GAAP. The GAAP measure used by us that is most directly comparable to Adjusted gross margin is operating income (loss), while net income (loss) and net cash provided by operating activities are the GAAP measures used by us that are most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA. The GAAP measure used by us that is most directly comparable to Distributable cash flow is net income (loss). Our non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Distributable cash flow should not be considered as alternatives to the GAAP measures of operating income (loss), net income (loss), net cash provided by operating activities, or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Distributable cash flow have important limitations as analytical tools because they exclude some, but not all, items that affect operating income (loss), net income (loss), and net cash provided by operating activities. Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Distributable cash flow should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Our definitions of Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Distributable cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies in our industry, thereby diminishing their utility.
Management compensates for the limitations of Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Distributable cash flow as analytical tools by reviewing the comparable GAAP measures, understanding the differences between Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and Distributable cash flow compared to (as applicable) operating income (loss), net income (loss), and net cash provided by operating activities, and incorporating this knowledge into its decision-making processes. We believe that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures that our management uses in evaluating our operating results.

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The following tables present (a) a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of our operating income (loss) to the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted gross margin, (b) a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measures of our net income (loss) and our net cash provided by operating activities to the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA, and (c) a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of our net income (loss) to the non-GAAP financial measure of Distributable cash flow:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Reconciliation of Operating income (loss) to Adjusted gross margin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income (loss)
 
$
268,725

 
$
257,554

 
$
897,713

 
$
596,635

Add:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distributions from equity investments
 
71,005

 
66,493

 
203,540

 
145,650

Operation and maintenance
 
176,572

 
129,042

 
467,832

 
338,626

General and administrative
 
30,769

 
16,022

 
83,640

 
47,448

Property and other taxes
 
15,281

 
13,146

 
45,848

 
41,496

Depreciation and amortization
 
127,914

 
97,479

 
362,977

 
270,757

Impairments
 
3,107

 
27,902

 
4,294

 
155,286

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net
 
248

 
65

 
(1,403
)
 
351

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
53,893

 
54,215

 
175,483

 
133,874

Reimbursed electricity-related charges recorded as revenues
 
23,969

 
17,485

 
60,747

 
50,204

Adjusted gross margin attributable to noncontrolling interests (1)
 
15,619

 
14,445

 
47,203

 
40,334

Adjusted gross margin
 
$
599,644

 
$
521,428

 
$
1,783,814

 
$
1,371,135

Adjusted gross margin for natural gas assets
 
$
401,380

 
$
376,131

 
$
1,226,302

 
$
1,048,185

Adjusted gross margin for crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water assets
 
198,264

 
145,297

 
557,512

 
322,950

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
For all periods presented, includes (i) the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta and (ii) the 2.0% Occidental subsidiary-owned limited partner interest in WES Operating, which collectively represent WES’s noncontrolling interests as of September 30, 2019. For a discussion of the impact to noncontrolling interests as a result of the Merger closing, see Noncontrolling interests within Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

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Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Reconciliation of Net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
125,223

 
$
198,560

 
$
512,260

 
$
446,737

Add:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distributions from equity investments
 
71,005

 
66,493

 
203,540

 
145,650

Non-cash equity-based compensation expense
 
4,137

 
1,614

 
10,278

 
5,766

Interest expense
 
78,524

 
48,869

 
223,872

 
129,129

Income tax expense
 
1,309

 
15,005

 
12,679

 
36,193

Depreciation and amortization
 
127,914

 
97,479

 
362,977

 
270,757

Impairments
 
3,107

 
27,902

 
4,294

 
155,286

Other expense
 
67,961

 
33

 
161,813

 
184

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net
 
248

 
65

 
(1,403
)
 
351

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
53,893

 
54,215

 
175,483

 
133,874

Interest income – affiliates
 
4,225

 
4,225

 
12,675

 
12,675

Other income
 

 
655

 

 
2,749

Adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests (1)
 
10,601

 
10,976

 
33,495

 
30,950

Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
410,213

 
$
385,819

 
$
1,271,463

 
$
1,009,103

Reconciliation of Net cash provided by operating activities to Adjusted EBITDA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
340,154

 
$
335,869

 
$
1,026,685

 
$
965,195

Interest (income) expense, net
 
74,299

 
44,644

 
211,197

 
116,454

Uncontributed cash-based compensation awards
 
141

 
(55
)
 
789

 
932

Accretion and amortization of long-term obligations, net
 
(3,651
)
 
(1,283
)
 
(6,499
)
 
(4,659
)
Current income tax (benefit) expense
 
(407
)
 
(19,432
)
 
6,078

 
(47,102
)
Other (income) expense, net (2)
 
(495
)
 
(655
)
 
(1,397
)
 
(2,749
)
Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – affiliates
 
4,151

 
6,184

 
21,203

 
19,816

Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts receivable, net
 
12,418

 
56,281

 
9,750

 
64,853

Accounts and imbalance payables and accrued liabilities, net
 
(11,808
)
 
(19,041
)
 
69,390

 
(61,081
)
Other items, net
 
6,012

 
(5,717
)
 
(32,238
)
 
(11,606
)
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests (1)
 
(10,601
)
 
(10,976
)
 
(33,495
)
 
(30,950
)
Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
410,213

 
$
385,819

 
$
1,271,463

 
$
1,009,103

Cash flow information
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
 
 
 
 
$
1,026,685

 
$
965,195

Net cash used in investing activities
 
 
 
 
 
(3,134,643
)
 
(1,798,702
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
 
 
 
 
2,133,246

 
886,796

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
For all periods presented, includes (i) the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta and (ii) the 2.0% Occidental subsidiary-owned limited partner interest in WES Operating, which collectively represent WES’s noncontrolling interests as of September 30, 2019. For a discussion of the impact to noncontrolling interests as a result of the Merger closing, see Noncontrolling interests within Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
(2) 
Excludes non-cash losses on interest-rate swaps of $68.3 million and $162.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively. See Note 10—Debt and Interest Expense in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

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Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except Coverage ratio
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Reconciliation of Net income (loss) to Distributable cash flow and calculation of the Coverage ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
125,223

 
$
198,560

 
$
512,260

 
$
446,737

Add:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distributions from equity investments
 
71,005

 
66,493

 
203,540

 
145,650

Non-cash equity-based compensation expense
 
4,137

 
1,614

 
10,278

 
5,766

Non-cash settled interest expense, net
 
20

 

 
20

 

Income tax (benefit) expense
 
1,309

 
15,005

 
12,679

 
36,193

Depreciation and amortization
 
127,914

 
97,479

 
362,977

 
270,757

Impairments
 
3,107

 
27,902

 
4,294

 
155,286

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

 
12,601

 
7,407

 
40,722

Other expense
 
67,961

 
33

 
161,813

 
184

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recognized Service revenues – fee based in excess of (less than) customer billings
 
(3,934
)
 
6,014

 
(22,230
)
 
8,971

Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net
 
248

 
65

 
(1,403
)
 
351

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
53,893

 
54,215

 
175,483

 
133,874

Cash paid for maintenance capital expenditures
 
29,298

 
32,620

 
94,888

 
81,537

Capitalized interest
 
8,386

 
8,449

 
20,933

 
25,283

Cash paid for (reimbursement of) income taxes
 

 

 
96

 
(87
)
Other income
 

 
655

 

 
2,749

Distributable cash flow attributable to noncontrolling interests (2)
 
8,401

 
9,399

 
27,464

 
27,138

Distributable cash flow
 
$
304,384

 
$
308,270

 
$
980,037

 
$
821,479

Distributions declared
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distributions from WES Operating
 
$
283,881

 
 
 
$
843,804

 
 
Less: Cash reserve for the proper conduct of WES’s business
 
3,001

 
 
 
6,641

 
 
Distributions to WES unitholders (3)
 
$
280,880

 
 
 
$
837,163

 
 
Coverage ratio
 
1.08

x
 
 
1.17

x
 
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
See Note 6—Transactions with Affiliates in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
(2) 
For all periods presented, includes (i) the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta and (ii) the 2.0% Occidental subsidiary-owned limited partner interest in WES Operating, which collectively represent WES’s noncontrolling interests as of September 30, 2019. For a discussion of the impact to noncontrolling interests as a result of the Merger closing, see Noncontrolling interests within Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
(3) 
Reflects cash distributions of $0.62000 and $1.84800 per unit declared for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively.


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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our primary cash requirements are for capital expenditures, debt service, customary operating expenses, quarterly distributions, distributions to our noncontrolling interest owners, and strategic acquisitions. Our sources of liquidity as of September 30, 2019, included cash and cash equivalents, cash flows generated from operations, interest income on our $260.0 million note receivable from Anadarko, available borrowing capacity under the RCF, and issuances of additional equity or debt securities. We believe that cash flows generated from these sources will be sufficient to satisfy our short-term working capital requirements, and long-term maintenance and expansion capital expenditure requirements. The amount of future distributions to unitholders will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements, and other factors and will be determined by the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis. Due to our cash distribution policy, we expect to rely on external financing sources, including equity and debt issuances, to fund expansion capital expenditures and future acquisitions. However, to limit interest expense, we may use operating cash flows to fund expansion capital expenditures or acquisitions, which could result in subsequent borrowings under the RCF to pay distributions or to fund other short-term working capital requirements.
Our partnership agreement requires that we distribute all of our available cash (as defined in our partnership agreement) within 55 days following each quarter’s end. Our cash flow and resulting ability to make cash distributions are completely dependent on our ability to generate favorable cash flow from operations. Generally, our available cash is our cash on hand at the end of a quarter after the payment of our expenses and the establishment of cash reserves and cash on hand resulting from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter. We have made cash distributions to our unitholders each quarter since our IPO in 2012 and have increased our quarterly distribution each quarter since the fourth quarter of 2012. The Board of Directors declared a cash distribution to unitholders for the third quarter of 2019 of $0.62000 per unit, or $280.9 million in aggregate. The cash distribution is payable on November 13, 2019, to our unitholders of record at the close of business on November 1, 2019.
Management continuously monitors our leverage position and coordinates our capital expenditure program, quarterly distributions, and acquisition strategy with our expected cash flows and projected debt-repayment schedule. We will continue to evaluate funding alternatives, including additional borrowings and the issuance of debt or equity securities, to secure funds as needed or to refinance outstanding debt balances with longer term debt issuances. Our ability to generate cash flows is subject to a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control. Read Risk Factors under Part II, Item 1A of this Form 10-Q.

Working capital. As of September 30, 2019, we had a $203.6 million working capital deficit, which we define as the amount by which current liabilities exceed current assets. Working capital is an indication of liquidity and potential need for short-term funding. Working capital requirements are driven by changes in accounts receivable and accounts payable and other factors such as credit extended to, and the timing of collections from, our customers, and the level and timing of our spending for acquisitions, maintenance, and expansion activity. The working capital deficit as of September 30, 2019, was primarily due to the costs incurred related to continued construction and expansion at the West Texas and DJ Basin complexes, DBM oil system, and DBM water systems. As of September 30, 2019, there was $1.8 billion available for borrowing under the RCF. See Note 9—Components of Working Capital and Note 10—Debt and Interest Expense in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.


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Capital expenditures. Our business is capital intensive, requiring significant investment to maintain and improve existing facilities or to develop new midstream infrastructure. We categorize capital expenditures as one of the following:
 
maintenance capital expenditures, which include those expenditures required to maintain existing operating capacity and service capability of our assets, such as to replace system components and equipment that have been subject to significant use over time, become obsolete or reached the end of their useful lives, to remain in compliance with regulatory or legal requirements, or to complete additional well connections to maintain existing system throughput and related cash flows; or

expansion capital expenditures, which include expenditures to construct new midstream infrastructure and expenditures incurred to extend the useful lives of our assets, reduce costs, increase revenues, or increase system throughput or capacity from current levels, including well connections that increase existing system throughput.

Capital expenditures in the consolidated statements of cash flows reflect capital expenditures on a cash basis, when payments are made. Capital incurred is presented on an accrual basis. Capital expenditures as presented in the consolidated statements of cash flows and capital incurred were as follows:


 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2019
 
2018
Acquisitions
 
$
2,100,804

 
$
162,112

 
 
 
 
 
Expansion capital expenditures
 
$
852,378

 
$
1,508,116

Maintenance capital expenditures
 
94,888

 
81,537

Total capital expenditures (1) (2)
 
$
947,266

 
$
1,589,653

 
 
 
 
 
Capital incurred (1) (3)
 
$
826,713

 
$
1,573,738

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, included $16.1 million and $24.8 million, respectively, of capitalized interest. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, capitalized interest included $8.3 million of pre-acquisition capitalized interest for AMA.
(2) 
Capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, included $640.6 million of pre-acquisition capital expenditures for AMA.
(3) 
Capital incurred for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, included $650.3 million of pre-acquisition capital incurred for AMA.

Acquisitions during 2019 included AMA and the 30% interest in Red Bluff Express. Acquisitions during 2018 included a 20% interest in Whitethorn LLC, a 15% interest in Cactus II, and equipment purchases from affiliates. See Note 3—Acquisitions and Divestitures and Note 6—Transactions with Affiliates in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions, decreased by $642.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. Expansion capital expenditures decreased by $655.7 million (including an $8.7 million decrease in capitalized interest) for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to decreases of (i) $354.3 million at the West Texas complex primarily due to the completion of Mentone Trains I and II that commenced operations in November 2018 and March 2019, respectively, (ii) $220.5 million at the DBM oil system primarily due to the completion of the ROTFs that commenced operations in the second quarter of 2018, and (iii) $155.7 million at the DBM water systems due to the completion of the water systems that commenced operations in the third and fourth quarters of 2018. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $64.8 million at the DJ Basin complex primarily due to ongoing construction of the Latham processing plant. Maintenance capital expenditures increased by $13.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to increases at the DBM oil system and DJ Basin complex.


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Historical cash flow. The following table and discussion present a summary of our net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, investing activities and financing activities:
 
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2019
 
2018
Net cash provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
Operating activities
 
$
1,026,685

 
$
965,195

Investing activities
 
(3,134,643
)
 
(1,798,702
)
Financing activities
 
2,133,246

 
886,796

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
25,288

 
$
53,289


Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, primarily due to increases in distributions from equity investments and the impact of changes in working capital items. Refer to Operating Results within this Item 2 for a discussion of our results of operations as compared to the prior periods.

Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, included the following:

$2.0 billion of cash paid for the acquisition of AMA;

$947.3 million of capital expenditures, primarily related to construction and expansion at the West Texas and DJ Basin complexes, DBM oil system, and DBM water systems;

$108.1 million of capital contributions primarily paid to Cactus II, the TEFR Interests, Whitethorn LLC, Red Bluff Express, and White Cliffs for construction activities;

$92.5 million of cash paid for the acquisition of our interest in Red Bluff Express; and

$21.2 million of distributions received from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings.

Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, included the following:

$1.6 billion of capital expenditures, primarily related to construction and expansion at the West Texas and DJ Basin complexes, DBM oil system, and DBM water systems;

$161.9 million of cash paid for the acquisitions of our interests in Whitethorn LLC and Cactus II;

$67.1 million of capital contributions paid to Cactus II, the TEFR Interests, Whitethorn LLC, and White Cliffs for construction activities; and

$19.8 million of distributions received from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings.

Financing Activities. Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, included the following:

$3.0 billion of borrowings under the Term loan facility, net of issuance costs, which were used to fund the acquisition of AMA, to repay the APCWH Note Payable, and to repay amounts outstanding under the RCF;

$940.0 million of borrowings under the RCF, which were used for general partnership purposes, including to fund capital expenditures;

$458.8 million of net contributions from Anadarko representing intercompany transactions attributable to the acquisition of AMA;

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$11.0 million of borrowings under the APCWH Note Payable, which were used to fund the construction of the DBM water systems;

$7.4 million of capital contributions from Anadarko related to the above-market component of swap agreements;

$1.0 billion of repayments of outstanding borrowings under the RCF;

$688.2 million of distributions paid to WES unitholders;

$439.6 million of repayments of the total outstanding balance under the APCWH Note Payable;

$112.4 million of distributions paid to the noncontrolling interest owners of WES Operating;

$28.0 million of repayments of the total outstanding balance under the WGP RCF, which matured in March 2019; and

$5.2 million of distributions paid to the noncontrolling interest owner of Chipeta.

Net cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, included the following:

$1.08 billion of net proceeds from the offering of the 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028 and 5.300% Senior Notes due 2048 in March 2018, after underwriting and original issue discounts and offering costs, which were used to repay amounts outstanding under the RCF and for general partnership purposes, including to fund capital expenditures;

$738.1 million of net proceeds from the offering of the 4.750% Senior Notes due 2028 and 5.500% Senior Notes due 2048 in August 2018, after underwriting and original issue discounts and offering costs, which were used to repay the maturing 2.600% Senior Notes due August 2018, repay amounts outstanding under the RCF and for general partnership purposes, including to fund capital expenditures;

$316.8 million of borrowings under the RCF, net of extension costs, which were used for general partnership purposes, including to fund capital expenditures;

$265.5 million of borrowings under the APCWH Note Payable, which were used to fund the construction of the DBM water systems;

$156.7 million of net contributions from Anadarko representing intercompany transactions attributable to the acquisition of AMA;

$40.7 million of capital contributions from Anadarko related to the above-market component of swap agreements;

$690.0 million of repayments of outstanding borrowings under the RCF;

$372.2 million of distributions paid to WES unitholders;

$350.0 million of principal repayment on the maturing 2.600% Senior Notes due August 2018;

$287.4 million of distributions paid to the noncontrolling interest owners of WES Operating; and

$9.4 million of distributions paid to the noncontrolling interest owner of Chipeta.


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Debt and credit facilities. As of September 30, 2019, the carrying value of outstanding debt was $7.7 billion. See Note 10—Debt and Interest Expense in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Senior Notes. At September 30, 2019, WES Operating was in compliance with all covenants under the relevant governing indentures.

WGP RCF. In February 2018, we voluntarily reduced aggregate commitments of the lenders under the WGP RCF to $35.0 million. The WGP RCF, which previously was available to purchase WES Operating common units and for general partnership purposes, matured in March 2019 and the $28.0 million of outstanding borrowings were repaid.

Revolving credit facility. The RCF is expandable to a maximum of $2.5 billion and bears interest at LIBOR, plus applicable margins ranging from 1.00% to 1.50%, or an alternate base rate equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.50%, or (c) LIBOR plus 1.00%, in each case plus applicable margins currently ranging from zero to 0.50%, based upon WES Operating’s senior unsecured debt rating. A required quarterly facility fee is paid ranging from 0.125% to 0.250% of the commitment amount (whether used or unused), also based upon the senior unsecured debt rating.
The RCF contains certain covenants that limit, among other things, WES Operating’s ability, and that of certain of its subsidiaries, to incur additional indebtedness, grant certain liens, merge, consolidate, or allow any material change in the character of its business, enter into certain affiliate transactions and use proceeds other than for partnership purposes. The RCF also contains various customary covenants, customary events of default and a maximum consolidated leverage ratio as of the end of each fiscal quarter (which is defined as the ratio of consolidated indebtedness as of the last day of a fiscal quarter to Consolidated Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such day) of 5.0 to 1.0, or a consolidated leverage ratio of 5.5 to 1.0 with respect to quarters ending in the 270-day period immediately following certain acquisitions.
As of September 30, 2019, there was $160.0 million of outstanding borrowings and $4.6 million of outstanding letters of credit, resulting in $1.8 billion available for borrowing under the RCF. At September 30, 2019, the interest rate on any outstanding RCF borrowings was 3.34% and the facility fee rate was 0.20%. At September 30, 2019, WES Operating was in compliance with all covenants under the RCF.

Term loan facility. In December 2018, WES Operating entered into a $2.0 billion 364-day senior unsecured credit facility, the proceeds of which were used to fund substantially all of the cash portion of the consideration under the Merger Agreement and the payment of related transaction costs (see Executive Summary—Merger transactions within this Item 2). The Term loan facility bears interest at LIBOR, plus applicable margins ranging from 1.000% to 1.625%, or an alternate base rate equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.50%, or (c) LIBOR plus 1.00%, in each case as defined in the Term loan facility and plus applicable margins currently ranging from zero to 0.625%, based upon WES Operating’s senior unsecured debt rating. Net cash proceeds received from future asset sales and debt or equity offerings must be used to repay amounts outstanding under the facility. The Term loan facility contains covenants and customary events of default that are substantially similar to those contained in the RCF.
In July 2019, WES Operating entered into an amendment to the Term loan facility to (i) extend the maturity date from February 2020 to December 2020, (ii) increase the commitments available under the Term loan facility from $2.0 billion to $3.0 billion, the incremental $1.0 billion of which was subsequently drawn by WES Operating on September 13, 2019, and used to repay outstanding borrowings under the RCF, and (iii) modify the provision requiring that all debt issuance proceeds be used to repay the Term loan facility to allow for a $1.0 billion exclusion for debt offering proceeds.
As of September 30, 2019, there was $3.0 billion of outstanding borrowings under the Term loan facility that were subject to an interest rate of 3.42%. WES Operating was in compliance with all covenants under the Term loan facility as of September 30, 2019.

All of WES Operating’s notes and obligations under the RCF and Term loan facility are recourse to WES Operating GP. WES Operating GP is indemnified by wholly owned subsidiaries of Occidental against any claims made against WES Operating GP for WES Operating’s long-term debt and/or borrowings under the RCF and Term loan facility.


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APCWH Note Payable. In June 2017, in connection with funding the construction of the APC water systems that were acquired as part of the AMA acquisition, APCWH entered into an eight-year note payable agreement with Anadarko. This note payable had a maximum borrowing limit of $500.0 million, including accrued interest, which was payable upon maturity at the applicable mid-term federal rate based on a quarterly compounding basis as determined by the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. The APCWH Note Payable was repaid upon Merger completion (see Executive Summary—Merger transactions within this Item 2).

Interest-rate swaps. In December 2018 and March 2019, WES Operating entered into interest-rate swap agreements with an aggregate notional amount of $750.0 million and $375.0 million, respectively, to manage interest rate risk associated with anticipated debt issuances. Pursuant to these swap agreements, a floating interest rate indexed to the three-month LIBOR was exchanged for a fixed interest rate. Depending on market conditions, liability management actions, or other factors, WES Operating may settle or amend certain or all of the currently outstanding interest-rate swaps.
We do not apply hedge accounting and, therefore, gains and losses associated with currently outstanding interest-rate swaps are recognized currently in earnings. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, non-cash losses of $68.3 million and $162.9 million, respectively, were recognized, which are included in Other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations. The fair value of the interest-rate swaps was a liability of $170.9 million at September 30, 2019, which is reported within Accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 10—Debt and Interest Expense in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for additional information.

Credit risk. We bear credit risk through exposure to non-payment or non-performance by our counterparties, including Occidental, financial institutions, customers, and other parties. Generally, non-payment or non-performance results from a customer’s inability to satisfy payables to us for services rendered or volumes owed pursuant to gas imbalance agreements. We examine and monitor the creditworthiness of third-party customers and may establish credit limits for third-party customers. We do not, however, maintain a credit limit with respect to Occidental. Consequently, we are subject to the risk of non-payment or late payment by Occidental for gathering, processing, transportation, and disposal fees and for proceeds from the sale of residue, NGLs, and condensate to Occidental.
We expect our exposure to concentrated risk of non-payment or non-performance to continue for as long as we remain substantially dependent on Occidental for our revenues. Additionally, we are exposed to credit risk on the note receivable from Anadarko. We also are party to agreements with Occidental under which Occidental is required to indemnify us for certain environmental claims, losses arising from rights-of-way claims, failures to obtain required consents or governmental permits, and income taxes with respect to the assets previously acquired from Anadarko. See Note 6—Transactions with Affiliates in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Our ability to make distributions to our unitholders may be adversely impacted if Occidental becomes unable to perform under the terms of gathering, processing, transportation and disposal agreements, natural gas and NGLs purchase agreements, Anadarko’s note payable to WES Operating, our and WES Operating’s omnibus agreements, the services and secondment agreement, or the contribution agreements.


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ITEMS AFFECTING THE COMPARABILITY OF FINANCIAL RESULTS WITH WES OPERATING

Our consolidated financial statements include the consolidated financial results of WES Operating. Our results of operations do not differ materially from the results of operations and cash flows of WES Operating, which are reconciled below.

Reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to WES to net income (loss) attributable to WES Operating. The differences between net income (loss) attributable to WES and net income (loss) attributable to WES Operating are reconciled as follows:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net income (loss) attributable to WES
 
$
121,217

 
$
151,357

 
$
409,471

 
$
383,068

Limited partner interests in WES Operating not held by WES (1)
 
2,509

 
46,213

 
97,471

 
56,883

General and administrative expenses (2)
 
1,697

 
691

 
5,907

 
2,219

Other income (expense), net
 
(8
)
 
(57
)
 
(71
)
 
(140
)
Interest expense
 

 
325

 
245

 
1,696

Net income (loss) attributable to WES Operating
 
$
125,415

 
$
198,529

 
$
513,023

 
$
443,726

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Represents the portion of net income (loss) allocated to the limited partner interests in WES Operating not held by WES. As of September 30, 2019 and 2018, the public held a 0% and 59.4% limited partner interest in WES Operating, respectively. Other subsidiaries of Occidental separately held a 2.0% and 9.5% limited partner interest in WES Operating as of September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Immediately prior to the Merger closing, the IDRs and the general partner units were converted into a non-economic general partner interest in WES Operating and WES Operating common units, and upon Merger completion, all WES Operating common units held by the public and subsidiaries of Anadarko (other than common units held by WES, WES Operating GP, and 6.4 million common units held by a subsidiary of Anadarko) were converted into WES common units. See Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
(2) 
Represents general and administrative expenses incurred by WES separate from, and in addition to, those incurred by WES Operating.


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Reconciliation of net cash provided by (used in) operating and financing activities. The differences between net cash provided by (used in) operating and financing activities for WES and WES Operating are reconciled as follows:
 
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2019
 
2018
WES net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
1,026,685

 
$
965,195

General and administrative expenses (1)
 
5,907

 
2,219

Non-cash equity-based compensation expense
 
(1,255
)
 
(214
)
Changes in working capital
 
638

 
(442
)
Other income (expense), net
 
(71
)
 
(140
)
Interest expense
 
245

 
1,696

Debt related amortization and other items, net
 
(20
)
 
(776
)
WES Operating net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
1,032,129

 
$
967,538

 
 
 
 
 
WES net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
$
2,133,246

 
$
886,796

Distributions to WES unitholders (2)
 
688,193

 
372,189

Distributions to WES from WES Operating (3)
 
(722,282
)
 
(375,975
)
Registration expenses related to the issuance of WES common units
 
855

 

WGP RCF costs
 

 
8

WGP RCF repayments
 
28,000

 

WES Operating net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
$
2,128,012

 
$
883,018

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1) 
Represents general and administrative expenses incurred by WES separate from, and in addition to, those incurred by WES Operating.
(2) 
Represents distributions to WES common unitholders paid under WES’s partnership agreement. See Note 4—Partnership Distributions and Note 5—Equity and Partners’ Capital in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
(3) 
Difference attributable to elimination upon consolidation of WES Operating’s distributions on partnership interests owned by WES. See Note 4—Partnership Distributions and Note 5—Equity and Partners’ Capital in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Noncontrolling interest. WES Operating’s noncontrolling interest consists of the 25% third-party interest in Chipeta (see Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for further information).

WES Operating distributions. WES Operating distributes all of its available cash (as defined in its partnership agreement) to WES Operating unitholders of record on the applicable record date within 45 days following each quarter’s end.
Immediately prior to the Merger closing, the WES Operating IDRs and general partner units were converted into WES Operating common units, and upon Merger completion, all WES Operating common units held by the public and subsidiaries of Anadarko (other than common units held by WES, WES Operating GP, and 6.4 million common units held by a subsidiary of Anadarko) were converted into WES common units. Beginning with the first quarter of 2019, WES Operating makes distributions to WES and WGRAH, a subsidiary of Occidental, in respect of their proportionate share of limited partner interests in WES Operating. For the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019, WES Operating distributed $283.3 million and $288.1 million, respectively, to its limited partners. For the quarter ended September 30, 2019, WES Operating will distribute $289.7 million to its limited partners. See Note 5.

WES Operating LTIP. Concurrent with Merger closing, we assumed the Western Gas Partners, LP 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan. See Note 6—Transactions with Affiliates in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for further information.


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CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

Our contractual obligations include, among other things, a revolving credit facility, other third-party long-term debt, capital obligations related to expansion projects, and various operating and finance leases. Refer to Note 10—Debt and Interest Expense, Note 12—Commitments and Contingencies, and Note 11—Leases in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for an update to contractual obligations as of September 30, 2019.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements other than short-term operating leases and standby letters of credit. The information pertaining to operating leases and standby letters of credit required for this item is provided under Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation, Note 11—Leases, and Note 10—Debt and Interest Expense, respectively, included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS

See Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Commodity-price risk. Certain of our processing services are provided under percent-of-proceeds and keep-whole agreements for which Occidental is typically responsible for the marketing of the natural gas, condensate, and NGLs. Under percent-of-proceeds agreements, we receive a specified percentage of the net proceeds from the sale of residue and/or NGLs. Under keep-whole agreements, we keep 100% of the NGLs produced and the processed natural gas, or value of the natural gas, is returned to the producer, and because some of the gas is used and removed during processing, we compensate the producer for the amount of gas used and removed in processing by supplying additional gas or by paying an agreed-upon value for the gas used.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, 92% of our wellhead natural gas volumes (excluding equity investments) and 100% of our crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water throughput (excluding equity investments) were attributable to fee-based contracts. A 10% increase or decrease in commodity prices would not have a material impact on our operating income (loss), financial condition, or cash flows for the next twelve months, excluding the effect of imbalances described below.
We bear a limited degree of commodity-price risk with respect to settlement of natural gas imbalances that arise from differences in gas volumes received into our systems and gas volumes delivered by us to customers, and for instances where actual liquids recovery or fuel usage varies from contractually stipulated amounts. Natural gas volumes owed to or by us that are subject to monthly cash settlement are valued according to the terms of the contract as of the balance sheet dates and generally, reflect market index prices. Other natural gas volumes owed to or by us are valued at our weighted-average cost of natural gas as of the balance sheet dates and are settled in-kind. Our exposure to the impact of changes in commodity prices on outstanding imbalances depends on the timing of settlement of the imbalances.

Interest rate risk. The Federal Open Market Committee raised its target range for the federal funds rate four separate times during 2018 and has decreased its target range three times in 2019. Any future increases in the federal funds rate will ultimately result in an increase in short-term financing costs. As of September 30, 2019, we had $160.0 million in outstanding borrowings under the RCF and $3.0 billion in outstanding borrowings under the Term loan facility. The RCF and Term loan facility each bear interest at a rate based on LIBOR or an alternative base rate at WES Operating’s option. While a 10% change in the applicable benchmark interest rate would not materially impact interest expense on outstanding borrowings under the RCF and Term loan facility, it would impact the fair value of the Senior Notes at September 30, 2019.


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In December 2018 and March 2019, WES Operating entered into interest-rate swap agreements to manage interest rate risk associated with anticipated debt issuances. At September 30, 2019, we had a net derivative liability position of $170.9 million related to interest-rate swaps. A 10% increase or decrease in the LIBOR interest rate curve would change the aggregate fair value of outstanding interest-rate swap agreements by $23.7 million. However, any change in the interest rate derivative gain or loss could be substantially offset by changes in actual borrowing costs associated with anticipated debt issuances. See Note 10—Debt and Interest Expense in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Additional variable-rate debt may be issued in the future, either under the RCF or other financing sources, including commercial bank borrowings or debt issuances.

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of WES’s general partner and WES Operating GP (for purposes of this Item 4, “Management”) performed an evaluation of WES and WES Operating’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. WES and WES Operating’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that are filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in the reports that are filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this evaluation, Management concluded that WES and WES Operating’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2019.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. On August 8, 2019, Anadarko, the indirect general partner and majority unitholder of WES, was acquired by Occidental pursuant to the Occidental Merger. Occidental has started the process of integrating Anadarko and its internal control processes, resulting in certain of Anadarko’s internal controls shared by WES and WES Operating being superseded by Occidental’s internal controls. With the exception of Occidental shared controls, there were no changes in WES or WES Operating’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2019, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, WES or WES Operating’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

Kerr-McGee Gathering LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of WES, is currently in negotiations with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) and the State of Colorado with respect to alleged non-compliance with the leak detection and repair requirements of the federal Clean Air Act (“LDAR requirements”) at its Fort Lupton facility in the DJ Basin complex and WGR Operating, LP, another wholly owned subsidiary of WES, is in negotiations with the EPA and the State of Wyoming with respect to alleged non-compliance with LDAR requirements at its Granger, Wyoming facility. Although management cannot predict the outcome of settlement discussions in these matters, management believes that it is reasonably likely a resolution of these matters will result in a fine or penalty for each matter in excess of $100,000.
Except as discussed above, we are not a party to any legal, regulatory, or administrative proceedings other than proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that there are no such proceedings for which a final disposition could have a material adverse effect on results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition, or for which disclosure is otherwise required by Item 103 of Regulation S-K.


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Item 1A.  Risk Factors

Security holders and potential investors in our securities should carefully consider the risk factors included below and those set forth under Part I, Item 1A in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, together with all of the other information included in this document, and in our other public filings, press releases, and public discussions with management. Additionally, for a full discussion of the risks associated with Occidental’s business, see Item 1A under Part I in Occidental’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, Occidental’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Occidental’s other public filings, press releases, and public discussions with Occidental management. We have identified these risk factors as important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any written or oral forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf.

Following the closing of the Occidental Merger, Occidental owns and controls our general partner. Occidental’s ownership of our general partner may result in conflicts of interest.

Following the completion of the Occidental Merger, the directors and officers of our general partner and its affiliates have duties to manage our general partner in a manner that is beneficial to Occidental, who is the indirect owner of our general partner. At the same time, our general partner has duties to manage us in a manner that is beneficial to our unitholders. Therefore, our general partner’s duties to us may conflict with the duties of its officers and directors to Occidental. As a result of these conflicts of interest, our general partner may favor its own interest or the interests of Occidental or its owners or affiliates over the interest of our unitholders. Furthermore, we have historically relied on Anadarko for a substantial portion of the natural gas, crude oil, NGLs, and produced water that we gather, treat, process, transport, and/or dispose of.
Now that the Occidental Merger has been completed, our future prospects will depend upon Occidental’s growth strategy, midstream operational philosophy, and drilling program, including the level of drilling and completion activity by Occidental in acreage dedicated to us. Additional conflicts may also arise in the future following the Occidental Merger associated with (1) the allocation of capital and the allocation of operational and administrative costs between Occidental and us, (2) the amount of time devoted by the officers and directors of Occidental to its business in relation to us, and (3) future business opportunities that are pursued by Occidental and us.

Any future credit rating downgrade could negatively impact our cost of and ability to access capital.

Our costs of borrowing and ability to access the capital markets are affected not only by market conditions, but also by the credit rating assigned to WES Operating’s debt by the major credit rating agencies. As of September 30, 2019, WES Operating’s long-term debt was rated “BBB-” by Standard and Poor’s (“S&P”), “BBB-” by Fitch Ratings, and “Ba1” by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”). In October 2019, S&P changed its outlook on WES Operating’s credit rating from “developing” to “negative.” Any future downgrades in WES Operating’s credit ratings could adversely affect WES Operating’s ability to issue debt in the public debt markets and negatively impact our cost of capital and ability to effectively execute aspects of our strategy.
In addition, future downgrades could trigger our obligations to provide financial assurance of our performance under certain contractual arrangements. We may be required to post collateral in the form of letters of credit or cash as financial assurance of our performance under certain contractual arrangements, such as pipeline transportation contracts and NGLs and gas sales contracts. At September 30, 2019, there were $4.6 million in letters of credit or cash provided as assurance of our performance under these type of contractual arrangements with respect to credit-risk-related contingent features. Based on the interest-rate derivative liability positions as of September 30, 2019, if WES Operating’s credit ratings from both S&P and Moody’s were below the investment grade thresholds of BBB- and Baa3, respectively, cash collateral of up to approximately $78.3 million would have been required to be posted as of September 30, 2019.


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Implementation of new Colorado Senate Bill 19-181 may increase costs and limit oil and natural gas exploration and production operations in the state, which could have a material adverse effect on our customers in Colorado and significantly reduce demand for our services in the state.

On April 16, 2019, Senate Bill 19-181 was signed into law in Colorado. The new legislation reforms oversight of oil and natural gas exploration and production activities in the state. The mission of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (“COGCC”) has changed from fostering energy development in the state, to instead regulating the industry in a manner that is protective of public health and safety and the environment. The new legislation also authorizes Colorado cities and counties to take on an increased role in regulating oil and natural gas operations within their jurisdictions including in a manner that may be more stringent than state-level rules, and a few local governments have passed temporary moratorium on new oil and natural gas projects until the local governments have passed their own rules implementing the new law. The composition of the COGCC commissioners has also been changed under the new law, with the COGCC adding a commissioner with public health expertise. The COGCC is now tasked with undertaking several reviews of existing regulations and new or amended rulemakings, with priority given to implementing the new public health, safety, and environmental priorities; cumulative impacts; and local government assistance and interaction. Moreover, the new law requires the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Air Division to adopt additional air quality rules to minimize emissions from oil and natural gas activities. While the COGCC has already rejected calls for a complete moratorium on new oil and natural gas projects, it issued a set of “Objective Criteria” in May 2019 upon which the COGCC will determine whether a pending permit will be subject to “additional review” to determine compliance with Senate Bill 19-181, pending completion of certain COGCC rulemakings necessary to implement the new law. Timing for issuance of new or amended rules pursuant to Senate Bill 19-181 is currently unknown, with hearings planned in late 2019 and extending into 2020. Implementation of this new law could limit operations, including due to delays in the state issuing new drilling permits, and result in increased operational costs, which developments could have a material adverse effect on our customers in Colorado, which could significantly reduce demand for our midstream services in the state.
    
We are exposed to the credit risk of third-party customers, and any material non-payment or non-performance by these parties, including with respect to our gathering, processing, transportation, and disposal agreements, could reduce our ability to make distributions to our unitholders.

On some of our systems, we rely on third-party customers for substantially all of our revenues related to those assets. The loss of all or even a portion of the contracted volumes of these customers, as a result of competition, creditworthiness, inability to negotiate extensions, replacements of contracts, or otherwise, could reduce our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders. Further, to the extent any of our third-party customers is in financial distress or enters bankruptcy proceedings, the related customer contracts may be renegotiated at lower rates or rejected altogether. For example, Sanchez Energy Corporation, which is the upstream operator for substantially all of the natural gas, crude oil, and NGLs we gather and process in the Eagleford Basin, and which directly represents 9% of our natural gas gathering, treating, and transportation volumes, 1% of our crude oil, NGLs, and produced-water volumes (excluding equity investment volumes), and directly and indirectly 6% of our natural gas processing volumes, filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code on August 12, 2019. As a result, our earnings in the Eagleford Basin could be materially and adversely impacted. Any materially negative impact on such earnings may also result in impairments to the carrying value of our Eagleford assets.


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The tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships or an investment in our common units could be subject to potential legislative, judicial, or administrative changes and differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis.

The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships, including us, or an investment in our common units may be modified by administrative, legislative, or judicial interpretation at any time. From time to time, members of Congress have proposed and considered substantive changes to the existing U.S. federal income tax laws that would affect publicly traded partnerships, including elimination of partnership tax treatment for publicly traded partnerships. For example, the “Clean Energy for America Act”, which is similar to legislation that was commonly proposed during the Obama Administration, was introduced in the Senate on May 2, 2019. If enacted, this proposal would, among other things, repeal Section 7704(d)(1)(E) of the Code, upon which we rely for our status as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
In addition, the Treasury Department has issued, and in the future may issue, regulations interpreting those laws that affect publicly traded partnerships. There can be no assurance that there will not be further changes to U.S. federal income tax laws or the Treasury Department’s interpretation of the qualifying income rules in a manner that could impact our ability to qualify as a partnership in the future. We believe the income that we treat as qualifying satisfies the requirements under current regulations.
We are unable to predict whether any changes or proposals will ultimately be enacted. Any modification to the U.S. federal income tax laws and interpretations thereof may or may not be retroactively applied and could make it more difficult or impossible for us to meet the exception to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and could negatively impact the value of an investment in our common units.
You are urged to consult with your own tax advisor with respect to the status of regulatory or administrative developments and proposals and their potential effect on your investment in our common units.

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

PIK Class C units. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, in connection with the quarterly distribution for the Class C units, WES Operating issued 308,723 additional Class C units to AMH, a subsidiary of Anadarko.

WES Operating common units issued in connection with the Merger. On February 28, 2019, WES, WES Operating, Anadarko, and certain of their affiliates completed the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Immediately prior to the Merger closing, (i) the Class C units converted into WES Operating common units on a one-for-one basis; (ii) WES Operating and WES Operating GP caused the conversion of the IDRs and the 2,583,068 general partner units in WES Operating held by WES Operating GP into a non-economic general partner interest in WES Operating and 105,624,704 WES Operating common units, and (iii) WES Operating issued 45,760,201 common units to subsidiaries of Anadarko as consideration for AMA.


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Item 6.  Exhibits

Exhibits designated by an asterisk (*) are filed herewith and those designated with asterisks (**) are furnished herewith; all exhibits not so designated are incorporated herein by reference to a prior filing as indicated.
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
#
2.
1
 
#
2.
2
 
#
2.
3
 
#
2.
4
 
#
2.
5
 
#
2.
6
 
#
2.
7
 
#
2.
8
 
#
2.
9
 
#
2.
10
 
#
2.
11
 
#
2.
12
 

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Exhibit
Number
 
Description
#
2.
13
 
#
2.
14
 
#
2.
15
 
 
3.
1
 
 
3.
2
 
 
3.
3
 
 
3.
4
 
 
3.
5
 
 
3.
6
 
 
3.
7
 
 
3.
8
 
 
3.
9
 
 
3.
10
 
 
3.
11
 
 
3.
12
 
 
3.
13
 

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Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
3.
14
 
 
3.
15
 
 
4.
1
 
 
4.
2
 
 
4.
3
 
 
4.
4
 
 
4.
5
 
 
4.
6
 
 
4.
7
 
 
4.
8
 
 
4.
9
 
 
4.
10
 
 
4.
11
 
 
4.
12
 
 
4.
13
 
 
4.
14
 
 
4.
15
 
 
4.
16
 

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Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
4.
17
 
 
4.
18
 
 
10.
1
 
*
31.
1
 
*
31.
2
 
*
31.
3
 
*
31.
4
 
**
32.
1
 
**
32.
2
 
*
101.
INS
 
XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
*
101.
SCH
 
Inline XBRL Schema Document
*
101.
CAL
 
Inline XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document
*
101.
DEF
 
Inline XBRL Definition Linkbase Document
*
101.
LAB
 
Inline XBRL Label Linkbase Document
*
101.
PRE
 
Inline XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document
*
104 
 
 
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
                                                                                                                                                                                    
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Pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, the registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.


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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
WESTERN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
 
 
November 4, 2019
 
 
/s/ Michael P. Ure
 
Michael P. Ure
President and Chief Executive Officer
Western Midstream Holdings, LLC
(as general partner of Western Midstream Partners, LP)
 
 
November 4, 2019
 
 
/s/ Michael C. Pearl
 
Michael C. Pearl
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Western Midstream Holdings, LLC
(as general partner of Western Midstream Partners, LP)
 
 
 
 
 
WESTERN MIDSTREAM OPERATING, LP
 
 
November 4, 2019
 
 
/s/ Michael P. Ure
 
Michael P. Ure
President and Chief Executive Officer
Western Midstream Operating GP, LLC
(as general partner of Western Midstream Operating, LP)
 
 
November 4, 2019
 
 
/s/ Michael C. Pearl
 
Michael C. Pearl
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Western Midstream Operating GP, LLC
(as general partner of Western Midstream Operating, LP)


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