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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

X Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007

OR

     Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from              to              .

Commission file number 1-12202

ONEOK PARTNERS, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   93-1120873

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
100 West Fifth Street, Tulsa, OK   74103-4298
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code   (918) 588-7000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X   No     

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

Large accelerated filer X                                      Accelerated filer                                                   Non-accelerated filer __

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes      No X

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

 

Outstanding at July 31, 2007

Common units   46,397,214 units
Class B units   36,494,126 units

 


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ONEOK PARTNERS, L.P.

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

 

Part I.    Financial Information    Page No.
Item 1.    Financial Statements (Unaudited)   
   Consolidated Statements of Income -
Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2007 and 2006
   5
   Consolidated Balance Sheets -
June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006
   6
   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -
Six Months Ended June 30, 2007 and 2006
   7
   Consolidated Statement of Changes in Partners’ Equity and Comprehensive
Income - Six Months Ended June 30, 2007
   8-9
   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements    10-19
Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
   20-33
Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    33-35
Item 4.    Controls and Procedures    35
Part II.    Other Information   
Item 1.    Legal Proceedings    36
Item 1A.    Risk Factors    36
Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    36
Item 3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities    36
Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    37
Item 5.    Other Information    37
Item 6.    Exhibits    37
Signature    38

In this Quarterly Report, references to “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Partnership” refer to ONEOK Partners, L.P. and its subsidiary, ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership and its subsidiaries.

The statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that are not historical information, including statements concerning plans and objectives of management for future operations, economic performance or related assumptions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “should,” “goal,” “forecast” and other words and terms of similar meaning. Although we believe that our expectations regarding future events are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our goals will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are described under Part I, Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Forward Looking Statements” and Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and under Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

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Glossary

The abbreviations, acronyms, and industry terminology used in this Quarterly Report are defined as follows:

 

AFUDC

  

Allowance for funds used during construction

Bbl

  

Barrels, equivalent to 42 United States gallons

Bbl/d

  

Barrels per day

BBtu/d

  

Billion British thermal units per day

Bcf

  

Billion cubic feet

Bcf/d

  

Billion cubic feet per day

Btu

  

British thermal units

Exchange Act

  

Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

FASB

  

Financial Accounting Standards Board

FERC

  

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

FIN

  

FASB Interpretation

Fort Union Gas Gathering

  

Fort Union Gas Gathering, L.L.C.

GAAP

  

United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

Guardian Pipeline

  

Guardian Pipeline, L.L.C.

LIBOR

  

London Interbank Offered Rate

MBbl/d

  

Thousand barrels per day

Mcf

  

Thousand cubic feet

MDth/d

  

Thousand decatherms per day

Midwestern Gas Transmission

  

Midwestern Gas Transmission Company

MMBtu

  

Million British thermal units

MMBtu/d

  

Million British thermal units per day

MMcf

  

Million cubic feet

MMcf/d

  

Million cubic feet per day

Moody’s

  

Moody’s Investors Service

NBP Services

  

NBP Services, LLC, a subsidiary of ONEOK

NGL

  

Natural gas liquids

Northern Border Pipeline

  

Northern Border Pipeline Company

NYMEX

  

New York Mercantile Exchange

OBPI

  

ONEOK Bushton Processing Inc.

OkTex Pipeline

  

OkTex Pipeline Company

ONEOK

  

ONEOK, Inc.

ONEOK NB

  

ONEOK NB Company, formerly known as Northwest Border Pipeline Company, a ONEOK subsidiary

ONEOK Partners

  

ONEOK Partners, L.P., formerly known as Northern Border Partners, L.P.

ONEOK Partners GP

  

ONEOK Partners GP, L.L.C., formerly known as Northern Plains Natural Gas Company, LLC, a ONEOK subsidiary

Overland Pass Pipeline Company

  

Overland Pass Pipeline Company LLC

Partnership Agreement

  

Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of ONEOK Partners, L.P.

POP

  

Percent of Proceeds

S&P

  

Standard & Poor’s Rating Group

SEC

  

Securities and Exchange Commission

Statement

  

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards

TC PipeLines

  

TC PipeLines Intermediate Limited Partnership, a subsidiary of TC PipeLines, LP

TransCanada

  

TransCanada Corporation

 

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ONEOK Partners, L.P. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
   

Six Months Ended

June 30,

     
(Unaudited)    2007     2006     2007     2006        
     (Thousands of dollars, except per unit amounts)      

Revenues

          

Operating revenue

   $         1,370,377     $ 1,159,350     $         2,531,849     $ 2,329,180    

Cost of sales and fuel

     1,153,997       947,584       2,110,322       1,915,719      

Net Margin

     216,380       211,766       421,527       413,461      

Operating Expenses

          

Operations and maintenance

     73,181       65,630       139,634       134,209    

Depreciation and amortization

     28,013       39,282       55,526       66,752    

Taxes other than income

     7,249       8,136       16,257       14,913      

Total Operating Expenses

     108,443       113,048       211,417       215,874      

Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets

     (379 )     114,061       1,824       115,366      

Operating Income

     107,558       212,779       211,934       312,953      

Interest expense

     33,503       30,787       65,803       67,221      

Other income (expense):

          

Equity earnings from investments (Note G)

     18,758       18,321       42,813       49,962    

Other income

     4,160       3,174       6,960       4,260    

Other expense

     (298 )     (5,485 )     (511 )     (5,635 )    

Total Other Income, net

     22,620       16,010       49,262       48,587      

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

     92       519       177       2,138      

Income before income taxes

     96,583       197,483       195,216       292,181    

Income taxes

     1,964       1,284       4,841       25,478      

Net Income

   $ 94,619     $ 196,199     $ 190,375     $ 266,703    
 

Limited partners’ interest in net income:

          

Net income

   $ 94,619     $ 196,199     $ 190,375     $ 266,703    

General partners’ interest in net income

     14,052       12,105       27,330       51,745      

Limited Partners’ Interest in Net Income

   $ 80,567     $ 184,094     $ 163,045     $ 214,958    
 

Limited partners’ per unit net income:

          

Net income per unit (Note H)

   $ 0.97     $ 2.22     $ 1.97     $ 3.33    
 

Number of Units Used in Computation (Thousands)

     82,891       82,891       82,891       64,644    
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEOK Partners, L.P. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(Unaudited)    June 30,
2007
    December 31,
2006
       
Assets    (Thousands of dollars)      

Current Assets

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 56,639     $ 21,102    

Short-term investments

     26,038       -      

Accounts receivable, net

     368,282       298,602    

Affiliate receivables

     67,104       88,572    

Gas and natural gas liquids in storage

     189,504       198,141    

Commodity exchanges and imbalances

     22,301       53,433    

Other

     38,304       33,388      

Total Current Assets

     768,172       693,238      

Property, Plant and Equipment

      

Property, plant and equipment

     3,628,534       3,424,452    

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     713,545       660,804      

Net Property, Plant and Equipment (Note A)

     2,914,989       2,763,648      

Investments and Other Assets

      

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates (Note G)

     741,851       748,879    

Goodwill and intangible assets (Note D)

     685,918       689,751    

Other

     23,515       26,201      

Total Investments and Other Assets

     1,451,284       1,464,831      

Total Assets

   $ 5,134,445     $ 4,921,717    
 

Liabilities and Partners’ Equity

      

Current Liabilities

      

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ 11,931     $ 11,931    

Notes payable

     105,000       6,000    

Accounts payable

     502,825       361,967    

Affiliate payables

     15,607       25,737    

Commodity exchanges and imbalances

     165,250       175,927    

Other

     92,940       89,471      

Total Current Liabilities

     893,553       671,033      

Long-term Debt, net of current maturities

     2,012,860       2,019,598    

Minority Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries

     5,710       5,606    

Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

     39,050       36,818    

Commitments and Contingencies

      

Partners’ Equity

      

General partner

     55,991       54,373    

Common units: 46,397,214 units issued and outstanding at
June 30, 2007, and December 31, 2006

     803,457       803,599    

Class B units: 36,494,126 units issued and outstanding at
June 30, 2007, and December 31, 2006

     1,332,137       1,332,276    

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (8,313 )     (1,586 )    

Total Partners’ Equity

     2,183,272       2,188,662      

Total Liabilities and Partners’ Equity

   $     5,134,445     $ 4,921,717    
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEOK Partners, L.P. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
     
(Unaudited)    2007     2006        

Operating Activities

     (Thousands of dollars)    

Net income

   $ 190,375     $ 266,703    

Depreciation and amortization

     55,526       66,752    

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

     177       2,138    

Equity earnings from investments

     (42,813 )     (49,962 )  

Distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates

     57,066       69,819    

Gain on sale of assets

     (1,824 )     (115,366 )  

Changes in assets and liabilities (net of acquisition and disposition effects):

      

Accounts receivable

     (48,212 )     67,428    

Inventories

     6,144       (21,077 )  

Accounts payable and other current liabilities

     130,728       10,708    

Commodity exchanges and imbalances, net

     14,888       31,980    

Accrued taxes other than income

     777       (9,497 )  

Accrued interest

     1,204       4,315    

Derivative financial instruments

     3,236       (3,178 )  

Other

     (6,259 )     19,344      

Cash Provided by Operating Activities

     361,013       340,107      

Investing Activities

      

Changes in investments in unconsolidated affiliates

     (7,653 )     (6,077 )  

Acquisitions

     -         (1,438,485 )  

Proceeds from sale of assets

     3,753       297,558    

Capital expenditures

     (202,444 )     (53,575 )  

Changes in short-term investments

     (26,038 )     -      

Increase in cash and cash equivalents attributable to previously unconsolidated subsidiaries

     -         7,496    

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents attributable to previously consolidated subsidiaries

     -         (22,039 )    

Cash Used in Investing Activities

     (232,382 )     (1,215,122 )    

Financing Activities

      

Cash distributions:

      

General and limited partners

     (189,008 )     (84,761 )  

Minority interests

     (73 )     (147 )  

Cash flow retained by ONEOK (Note B)

     -         (176,978 )  

Short-term financing borrowings

     400,000       1,432,500    

Short-term financing payments

     (301,000 )     (275,000 )  

Payment of long-term debt

     (2,983 )     (35,013 )  

Other

     (30 )     (3,807 )    

Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities

     (93,094 )     856,794      

Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     35,537       (18,221 )  

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

     21,102       43,090      

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

   $ 56,639     $ 24,869    
 

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:

      

Cash Paid for Interest

   $ 69,324     $ 37,785    
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEOK Partners, L.P. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

 

 

(Unaudited)    Common
Units
  

Class B

Units

  

General

Partner

   

Common

Units

       
     (Units)    (Thousands of dollars)      

Partners’ equity at December 31, 2006

   46,397,214    36,494,126    $         54,373     $         803,599    

Net income

   -      -        27,330       91,262    

Other comprehensive loss

   -      -        -         -      

Total comprehensive income

            

Other

   -      -        (1 )     -      

Distributions paid

   -      -        (25,711 )     (91,404 )    

Partners’ equity at June 30, 2007

   46,397,214    36,494,126    $ 55,991     $ 803,457    
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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ONEOK Partners, L.P. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Continued)

 

      

Class B

Units

    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Total Partners’
Equity
       
     (Thousands of dollars)      

Partners’ equity at December 31, 2006

   $ 1,332,276     $ (1,586 )   $ 2,188,662    

Net income

     71,783       -         190,375    

Other comprehensive loss

     -         (6,727 )     (6,727 )  
              

Total comprehensive income

         183,648    
              

Other

     (29 )                 -         (30 )  

Distributions paid

     (71,893 )     -         (189,008 )    

Partners’ equity at June 30, 2007

   $             1,332,137     $ (8,313 )   $             2,183,272    
 

 

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ONEOK Partners, L.P. and Subsidiaries

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

A. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Our accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and reflect all adjustments that, in our opinion, are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. Due to the seasonal nature of our business, the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a 12-month period. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Our accounting policies are consistent with those disclosed in Note A of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, except as described below.

Significant Accounting Policies

Short-Term Investments - Our short-term investments consist of auction-rate securities, which are corporate or municipal bonds that have underlying long-term maturities. The interest rates are reset through auctions that are typically held every 7-35 days, at which time the securities can be sold. We invest in auction-rate securities for a portion of our cash management program.

Property - The following table sets forth our property, by segment, for the periods presented.

 

     June 30,
2007
   December 31,
2006
    
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Non-Regulated

        

Gathering and Processing

   $   1,168,874    $   1,133,614   

Natural Gas Liquids

     570,468      547,495   

Pipelines and Storage

     163,709      162,636   

Other

     49,631      50,784   

Regulated

        

Pipelines and Storage

     1,165,462      1,060,810   

Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines

     510,390      469,113     

Property, plant and equipment

     3,628,534      3,424,452   

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     713,545      660,804     

Net property, plant and equipment

   $ 2,914,989    $ 2,763,648   
 

At June 30, 2007, we had construction work in process of $394.8 million that had not yet been put in service and therefore was not being depreciated.

Income Taxes - In June 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,” which was effective for our year beginning January 1, 2007. This interpretation was issued to clarify the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 requires the recognition of penalties and interest on any unrecognized tax benefits. Our policy is to reflect penalties and interest as part of income tax expense as they become applicable. We have no tax positions that would require establishment of a reserve under FIN 48.

We file numerous consolidated and separate income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and in many state jurisdictions. We also file returns in Canada. No returns are currently under audit, and no extensions of statute of limitations have been granted.

 

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Other

Fair Value Measurements - In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” which establishes a framework for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements. Statement 157 is effective for our year beginning January 1, 2008. We are currently reviewing the applicability of Statement 157 to our operations and its potential impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” which allows companies to elect to measure specified financial assets and liabilities, firm commitments, and nonfinancial warranty and insurance contracts at fair value on a contract-by-contract basis, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings each reporting period. Statement 159 is effective for our year beginning January 1, 2008. We are currently reviewing the applicability of Statement 159 to our operations and its potential impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Reclassifications - Certain amounts in our consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2007 presentation. These reclassifications did not impact previously reported net income or partners’ equity.

 

B. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

Acquisition of NGL Pipeline - In July 2007, we announced our agreement to acquire an interstate natural gas liquids and refined petroleum products pipeline system and related assets from a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. for approximately $300 million. The system extends from Bushton and Conway, Kansas, to Chicago, Illinois, and transports, stores and delivers a full range of NGL and refined products. The FERC-regulated system spans more than 1,600 miles and has a capacity to transport up to 125,000 Bbl/d. The transaction includes approximately 950,000 Bbl of storage capacity, eight NGL terminals and 50 percent ownership of the Heartland Pipeline Company (Heartland). ConocoPhillips owns the other 50 percent of Heartland and is the managing partner of the Heartland joint venture, which consists primarily of three refined products terminals and connecting pipelines. In addition, ConocoPhillips has a right of first refusal to purchase the 50 percent ownership interest in Heartland that we are seeking to acquire. We expect to close the transaction, subject to regulatory approval, in the third quarter of 2007. Financing for this transaction will come from available cash and short-term credit facilities.

Overland Pass Pipeline Company - In May 2006, we entered into an agreement with a subsidiary of The Williams Companies, Inc. (Williams) to form a joint venture called Overland Pass Pipeline Company. Overland Pass Pipeline Company will build a 760-mile natural gas liquids pipeline from Opal, Wyoming, to the Mid-Continent natural gas liquids market center in Conway, Kansas. The pipeline will be initially designed to transport approximately 110,000 Bbl/d of NGLs, which can be increased to approximately 150,000 Bbl/d with additional pump facilities. As the 99 percent owner of the joint venture, we will manage the construction project, advance all costs associated with construction and operate the pipeline. Within two years of the pipeline becoming operational, Williams will have the option to increase its ownership up to 50 percent by reimbursing us for its proportionate share of all construction costs. If Williams exercises its option to increase its ownership to the full 50 percent, Williams would have the option to become operator. This project requires the approval of various state and federal regulatory authorities. Assuming Overland Pass Pipeline Company obtains the required regulatory approvals as scheduled, we currently expect construction of the pipeline to begin in the fall of 2007, with start up scheduled for early 2008.

As part of a long-term agreement, Williams dedicated its NGL production from two of its natural gas processing plants in Wyoming to the joint-venture company. We will provide downstream fractionation, storage and transportation services to Williams. The pipeline project is currently estimated to cost approximately $433 million, excluding AFUDC. During 2006, we paid $11.6 million to Williams for acquisition of our interest in the joint venture and for reimbursement of initial capital expenditures. In addition, we are investing approximately $216 million, excluding AFUDC, to expand our existing fractionation capabilities and the capacity of our natural gas liquids distribution pipelines. Financing for the projects may include a combination of short- or long-term debt or equity.

The ONEOK Transactions - In April 2006, we completed the acquisition and consolidated certain companies comprising ONEOK’s former gathering and processing, natural gas liquids, and pipelines and storage segments (collectively, the ONEOK Energy Assets) in a series of transactions, (collectively the ONEOK Transactions). As part of the ONEOK Transactions, ONEOK acquired ONEOK NB, formerly known as Northwest Border Pipeline Company, an affiliate of TransCanada that held a 0.35 percent general partner interest in us, under a Purchase and Sale Agreement between an affiliate of ONEOK and an affiliate of TransCanada. As a result, ONEOK owns our entire 2 percent general partner interest and controls us.

 

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We acquired the ONEOK Energy Assets for approximately $3 billion, including $1.35 billion in cash, before adjustments, and approximately 36.5 million Class B limited partner units. The Class B limited partner units and the related general partner interest contribution were valued at approximately $1.65 billion. ONEOK now owns approximately 37.0 million of our limited partner units, which, when combined with its general partner interest, increased its total interest in us to approximately 45.7 percent. We used $1.05 billion drawn under our $1.1 billion, 364-day credit agreement (the Bridge Facility), coupled with the proceeds from the sale of a 20 percent partnership interest in Northern Border Pipeline, to finance the cash portion of the transaction.

The ONEOK Transactions were accounted for as a transaction between entities under common control and these transactions were excluded from the accounting prescribed by Statement 141, “Business Combinations.” Accordingly, ONEOK’s historical cost basis in the ONEOK Energy Assets was transferred to us in a manner similar to a pooling of interests. The difference between the historical cost basis of the net assets acquired of $2.7 billion and the cash paid was assigned to the value of the Class B limited partner units issued to ONEOK and its general partner interest in us. These assets and their related operations are included in our consolidated financial statements retroactive to January 1, 2006. Since the ONEOK Transactions were not completed until April 2006, the income and cash flow from the ONEOK Energy Assets for the first quarter of 2006 were retained by ONEOK. In our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, we reported cash flow retained by ONEOK of $177.0 million, which represents the cash flows generated from these companies while they were owned by ONEOK.

Prior to the acquisition, the ONEOK Energy Assets were included in the consolidated state and federal income tax returns of ONEOK and, accordingly, current taxes payable were allocated to the ONEOK Energy Assets based on ONEOK’s effective tax rate. Income tax liabilities and provisions for income tax expense for the ONEOK Energy Assets were calculated on a stand-alone basis. Our Consolidated Statements of Income for the six months ended June 30, 2006, includes income tax expense recorded for the ONEOK Energy Assets of $22.2 million for the first quarter of 2006. In conjunction with the ONEOK Transactions, all income tax liabilities of the ONEOK Energy Assets at the time of the ONEOK Transactions were retained by ONEOK.

Income from the ONEOK Energy Assets for the first quarter of 2006 also reflects interest expense of $21.3 million, which represents interest charged on long-term debt owed to ONEOK. The interest rate on the debt was calculated periodically based upon ONEOK’s weighted average cost of debt. This debt was retained by ONEOK as part of the ONEOK Transactions.

The units issued to ONEOK were the newly created Class B limited partner units. As of April 7, 2007, the Class B limited partner units are no longer subordinated to distributions on our common units and generally have the same voting rights as our common units.

At a special meeting of the holders of our common units held March 29, 2007, the unitholders approved a proposal to permit the conversion of all or a portion of the Class B limited partner units issued in the ONEOK Transactions into common units at the option of the Class B unitholder. The March 29, 2007, special meeting was adjourned to May 10, 2007, to allow unitholders additional time to vote on a proposal to approve amendments to our Partnership Agreement which, had the amendments been approved, would have granted voting rights for units held by our general partner and its affiliates if a vote was held to remove our general partner and would have required fair market value compensation for the general partner interest if the general partner was removed. While a majority of our common unitholders voted in favor of the proposed amendments to our Partnership Agreement at the reconvened meeting of our common unitholders held May 10, 2007, the proposed amendments were not approved by the required two-thirds affirmative vote of our outstanding units, excluding the common units and Class B limited partner units held by ONEOK and its affiliates. As a result, effective April 7, 2007, the Class B limited partner units are entitled to receive increased quarterly distributions equal to 110 percent of the distributions paid with respect to our common units.

On June 21, 2007, ONEOK, as the sole holder of our Class B limited partner units, waived its right to receive the increased quarterly distributions on the Class B units for the period of April 7, 2007, through December 31, 2007, and continuing thereafter until ONEOK gives us no less than 90 days advance notice that it has withdrawn its waiver. Any such withdrawal of the waiver will be effective with respect to any distribution on the Class B units declared or paid on or after the 90 days following delivery of the notice.

In addition, since the proposed amendments to our Partnership Agreement were not approved by our common unitholders, if our common unitholders vote at any time to remove ONEOK or its affiliates as our general partner, quarterly distributions payable on Class B limited partner units would increase to 123.5 percent of the distributions payable with respect to the common units, and distributions payable upon liquidation of the Class B limited partner units would increase to 125 percent of the distributions payable with respect to the common units.

 

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Table of Contents

Disposition of 20 Percent Partnership Interest in Northern Border Pipeline - In April 2006, we completed the sale of a 20 percent partnership interest in Northern Border Pipeline to TC PipeLines for approximately $297 million to help finance the acquisition of the ONEOK Energy Assets. We recorded a gain on the sale of approximately $113.9 million in the second quarter of 2006. We and TC PipeLines each now own a 50 percent interest in Northern Border Pipeline, and an affiliate of TransCanada became the operator of the pipeline in April 2007. Under Statement 94, “Consolidation of All Majority Owned Subsidiaries,” a majority-owned subsidiary is not consolidated if control is likely to be temporary or if it does not rest with the majority owner. Neither we nor TC PipeLines has control of Northern Border Pipeline, as control is shared equally through Northern Border Pipeline’s Management Committee. Our interest in Northern Border Pipeline has been accounted for as an investment under the equity method applied on a retroactive basis to January 1, 2006.

Acquisition of Guardian Pipeline Interests - In April 2006, we acquired the 66-2/3 percent interest in Guardian Pipeline not previously owned by us for approximately $77 million, increasing our ownership to 100 percent. We used borrowings from our credit facility to fund the acquisition of the additional interest in Guardian Pipeline. Following the completion of the transaction, we consolidated Guardian Pipeline in our consolidated financial statements. This change was accounted for on a retroactive basis to January 1, 2006.

 

C. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

We utilize financial instruments to reduce our market risk exposure to interest rate and commodity price fluctuations, and to achieve more predictable cash flows. We follow established policies and procedures to assess risk and approve, monitor and report our financial instrument activities. We do not use these instruments for trading purposes.

Cash Flow Hedges - Our Gathering and Processing segment periodically enters into commodity derivative contracts and fixed-price physical contracts. Our Gathering and Processing segment primarily utilizes NYMEX-based futures, collars and over-the-counter swaps, which are designated as cash flow hedges, to hedge its exposure to volatility in the gross processing spread and the price of natural gas, NGLs and condensate. At June 30, 2007, the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet reflected an unrealized loss of $8.2 million in accumulated other comprehensive loss, with a corresponding offset in derivative financial instrument assets and liabilities, all of which will be recognized over the next nine months. Net gains and losses related to the ineffective portion of our hedges are reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to operating revenues in the period the ineffectiveness occurs. Ineffectiveness related to these cash flow hedges was not material for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007. Ineffectiveness related to these cash flow hedges resulted in a gain of approximately $1.7 million and $3.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, respectively. There were no material gains or losses during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, due to the discontinuance of cash flow hedge treatment.

Fair Value Hedges - In prior years, we terminated various interest-rate swap agreements. The net savings from the termination of these swaps is being recognized in interest expense over the terms of the debt instruments originally hedged. Net interest expense savings for the six months ended June 30, 2007, for all terminated swaps were $1.8 million, and the remaining net savings for all terminated swaps will be recognized over the following periods.

 

       (Millions of dollars)       

Remainder of 2007

   $ 1.8   

2008

     3.7   

2009

     3.7   

2010

     3.7   

2011

     0.9   

Thereafter

     -       

Currently, the interest on $150 million of fixed-rate debt is swapped to floating using interest-rate swaps. The floating rate is based on six-month LIBOR. Based on the actual performance through June 30, 2007, the weighted average interest rate on the swapped debt increased from 7.10 percent to 7.53 percent. At June 30, 2007, we recorded a net liability of $5.0 million to recognize the interest-rate swaps at fair value. Long-term debt was decreased by $5.0 million to recognize the change in the fair value of the related hedged liability.

 

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D. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill

Carrying Amounts - The amount of goodwill recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2007, and December 31, 2006, was $394.6 million.

Equity Method Goodwill - For the investments we account for under the equity method, the premium or excess cost over underlying fair value of net assets is referred to as equity method goodwill. Investment in unconsolidated affiliates on our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets includes equity method goodwill of $185.6 million as of June 30, 2007, and December 31, 2006.

Intangible Assets

Our intangible assets primarily relate to contracts acquired through the acquisition of the natural gas liquids businesses from ONEOK and are being amortized over an aggregate weighted-average period of 40 years. The aggregate amortization expense for each of the next five years is estimated to be approximately $7.7 million. Amortization expense for intangible assets for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2007, was $1.9 million and $3.8 million, respectively.

The following tables reflect the gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization of intangible assets for the periods presented.

 

     June 30, 2007
      

Gross

Intangible Assets

   Accumulated
Amortization
    Net
Intangible Assets
      
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Natural Gas Liquids

   $ 292,000    $ (14,599 )   $ 277,401   

Pipelines and Storage

     14,650      (733 )     13,917     

Intangible Assets

   $ 306,650    $ (15,332 )   $ 291,318   
 
     December 31, 2006
      

Gross

Intangible Assets

   Accumulated
Amortization
    Net
Intangible Assets
      
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Natural Gas Liquids

   $     292,000    $ (10,949 )   $     281,051   

Pipelines and Storage

     14,650      (550 )     14,100     

Intangible Assets

   $     306,650    $ (11,499 )   $     295,151   
 

 

E. CREDIT FACILITIES

General - On March 30, 2007, we amended and restated our five-year revolving credit facility agreement (2007 Partnership Credit Agreement), with several banks and other financial institutions and lenders in the following principal ways: (i) revised the pricing, (ii) extended the maturity by one year to March 2012, (iii) eliminated the interest coverage ratio covenant, (iv) increased the permitted ratio of indebtedness to EBITDA to 5 to 1 (from 4.75 to 1), (v) increased the swingline sub-facility commitments from $15 million to $50 million and (vi) changed the permitted amount of subsidiary indebtedness from $35 million to 10 percent of our consolidated indebtedness.

In July 2007, we exercised the accordion feature of our 2007 Partnership Credit Agreement to increase the commitment amounts by $250 million to a total of $1.0 billion.

Except as discussed above, our 2007 Partnership Credit Agreement and Guardian Pipeline’s revolving note agreement contain typical covenants as discussed in Note E of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. At June 30, 2007, we were in compliance with all covenants.

At June 30, 2007, we had $10 million in letters of credit issued and $105 million in borrowings outstanding under our 2007 Partnership Credit Agreement. At June 30, 2007, Guardian Pipeline had no borrowings outstanding under its $10 million revolving note agreement, which terminates in November 2007.

 

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Table of Contents
F. SEGMENTS

Segment Descriptions - We have divided our operations into four reportable segments as follows: (1) our Gathering and Processing segment, which primarily gathers and processes raw natural gas; (2) our Natural Gas Liquids segment, which primarily gathers, treats and fractionates raw NGLs and stores and markets purity NGL products; (3) our Pipelines and Storage segment, which primarily operates regulated intrastate natural gas transmission pipelines, natural gas storage facilities and regulated natural gas liquids gathering and distribution pipelines; and (4) our Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines segment, which primarily operates our interstate natural gas transmission pipelines that are regulated by the FERC. Certain assets of our Pipelines and Storage segment are regulated by the FERC, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the Kansas Corporation Commission and the Texas Railroad Commission.

Accounting Policies - The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note A and Note M of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. Intersegment and affiliate sales are recorded on the same basis as sales to unaffiliated customers. Our Gathering and Processing segment sells natural gas to ONEOK and its subsidiaries. A significant portion of our Pipelines and Storage segment’s revenues are from ONEOK and its subsidiaries, which utilize both transportation and storage services. Our Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines segment provides transportation services to ONEOK and its subsidiaries. Corporate overhead costs relating to a reportable segment have been allocated for the purpose of calculating operating income. Our equity method investments do not represent operating segments.

Customers - We had no single external customer from which we received 10 percent or more of our consolidated gross revenues.

Operating Segment Information - The following tables set forth certain operating segment financial data for the periods indicated.

 

Three Months Ended

June 30, 2007

  

Gathering

and

Processing

    Natural Gas
Liquids
  

Pipelines

and

Storage (a)

   Interstate
Natural Gas
Pipelines (b)
   Other and
Eliminations
    Total        
     (Thousands of dollars)      

Sales to unaffiliated customers

   $     107,633     $     1,057,817    $     18,781    $     21,348    $ 4     $     1,205,583    

Sales to affiliated customers

     140,692       -        24,018      84      -         164,794    

Intersegment sales

     114,432       9,818      19,031      13      (143,294 )     -        

Operating revenue

   $ 362,757     $ 1,067,635    $ 61,830    $ 21,445    $ (143,290 )   $ 1,370,377      

Gain (loss) on sale of assets

   $ (384 )   $ 3    $ 2    $ -      $             -       $ (379 )    

Operating income

   $ 46,274     $ 31,788    $ 25,706    $ 7,782    $ (3,992 )   $ 107,558      

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 7,730     $ 414    $ 103    $ 10,511    $ -       $ 18,758    

EBITDA

   $ 65,109     $ 37,799    $ 33,552    $ 21,617    $ (1,543 )   $ 156,534    

Capital expenditures

   $ 23,082     $ 15,067    $ 67,668    $ 23,764    $ -       $ 129,581      
(a)   -   Our Pipelines and Storage segment has regulated and non-regulated operations. Our Pipelines and Storage segment’s regulated operations had revenues of $48.3 million and operating income of $17.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007.
(b)   -   All of our Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines segment’s operations are regulated.

Three Months Ended

June 30, 2006

   Gathering
and
Processing
  

Natural Gas

Liquids

  

Pipelines

and

Storage (a)

   Interstate
Natural Gas
Pipelines (b)
   Other and
Eliminations
    Total       
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Sales to unaffiliated customers

   $     172,831    $     881,525    $     17,626    $ 23,229    $ (33,426 )   $     1,061,785   

Sales to affiliated customers

     72,813      -        24,752      -        -         97,565   

Intersegment sales

     102,230      -        16,893      -        (119,123 )     -       

Operating revenue

   $ 347,874    $ 881,525    $ 59,271    $ 23,229    $ (152,549 )   $ 1,159,350     

Gain on sale of assets

   $ 59    $ 5    $ 1    $ 113,877    $ 119     $ 114,061     

Operating income

   $ 46,338    $ 29,237    $ 25,001    $ 125,109    $ (12,906 )   $ 212,779     

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 5,277    $ 316    $ 25    $ 12,703    $ -       $ 18,321   

EBITDA

   $ 64,408    $ 35,086    $ 32,452    $ 141,438    $ (5,483 )   $ 267,901   

Capital expenditures

   $ 14,581    $ 5,023    $ 11,914    $ 3,783    $ 498     $ 35,799     
(a)   -   Our Pipelines and Storage segment has regulated and non-regulated operations. Our Pipelines and Storage segment’s regulated operations had revenues of $46.7 million and operating income of $18.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006.
(b)   -   All of our Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines segment’s operations are regulated.

 

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Table of Contents

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2007

  

Gathering

and

Processing

  

Natural

Gas

Liquids

  

Pipelines

and

Storage (a)

   Interstate
Natural Gas
Pipelines (b)
   Other and
Eliminations
    Total       
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Sales to unaffiliated customers

   $ 211,208    $ 1,915,780    $ 38,898    $ 44,818    $ 15     $ 2,210,719   

Sales to affiliated customers

     271,119      -        49,816      195      -         321,130   

Intersegment sales

     203,311      12,787      37,004      13      (253,115 )     -       

Operating revenue

   $ 685,638    $ 1,928,567    $ 125,718    $ 45,026    $ (253,100 )   $ 2,531,849     

Gain on sale of assets

   $ 1,813    $ 4    $ 7    $ -      $ -       $ 1,824     

Operating income

   $ 76,726    $ 63,786    $ 53,769    $ 20,716    $ (3,063 )   $ 211,934     

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 13,338    $ 693    $ 231    $ 28,551    $ -       $ 42,813   

EBITDA

   $ 112,534    $ 75,449    $ 69,723    $ 55,907    $ 114     $ 313,727   

Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliates

   $ 298,768    $ 9,763    $ 7,907    $ 425,413    $                 -       $ 741,851   

Total assets

   $     1,704,940    $     1,669,178    $     1,239,250    $     644,823    $ (123,746 )   $     5,134,445   

Capital expenditures

   $ 38,833    $ 22,534    $ 101,357    $ 39,714    $ 6     $ 202,444     
(a)   -   Our Pipelines and Storage segment has regulated and non-regulated operations. Our Pipelines and Storage segment’s regulated operations had revenues of $100.8 million and operating income of $38.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007.
(b)   -   All of our Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines segment’s operations are regulated.               

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2006

  

Gathering

and

Processing

  

Natural

Gas

Liquids

  

Pipelines

and

Storage (a)

   Interstate
Natural Gas
Pipelines (b)
   Other and
Eliminations
    Total       
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Sales to unaffiliated customers

   $ 376,421    $ 1,693,149    $ 36,055    $ 48,783    $ (73,720 )   $ 2,080,688   

Sales to affiliated customers

     195,316      -        53,176      -        -         248,492   

Intersegment sales

     176,878      7,799      32,952      -        (217,629 )     -       

Operating revenue

   $ 748,615    $ 1,700,948    $ 122,183    $ 48,783    $ (291,349 )   $ 2,329,180     

Gain on sale of assets

   $ 365    $ 11    $ 994    $ 113,877    $ 119     $ 115,366     

Operating income

   $ 93,190    $ 46,362    $ 53,742    $ 138,176    $ (18,517 )   $ 312,953     

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 10,699    $ 144    $ 269    $ 38,850    $ -       $ 49,962   

EBITDA

   $ 127,523    $ 57,473    $ 69,342    $ 184,448    $ (10,792 )   $ 427,994   

Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliates

   $ 291,372    $ 9,394    $ 8,448    $ 446,839    $ -       $ 756,053   

Total assets

   $     1,514,835    $     1,585,253    $     1,056,271    $     603,759    $     183,250     $     4,943,368   

Capital expenditures

   $ 22,398    $ 7,977    $ 15,490    $ 6,905    $ 805     $ 53,575     
(a)   -   Our Pipelines and Storage segment has regulated and non-regulated operations. Our Pipelines and Storage segment’s regulated operations had revenues of $97.9 million and operating income of $39.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006.
(b)   -   All of our Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines segment’s operations are regulated.

We evaluate our performance based on EBITDA, which we define as earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization less the cost of the equity component of AFUDC (Equity AFUDC). Management uses EBITDA to compare the financial performance of its segments and to internally manage those business segments. Management believes that EBITDA provides useful information to investors as a measure of comparison with peer companies. EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income or cash flow as determined in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA calculations may vary from company to company, so our computation of EBITDA may not be comparable with a similarly titled measure of another company.

The following tables set forth the reconciliation of net income to EBITDA by operating segment for the periods indicated.

 

Three Months Ended

June 30, 2007

  

Gathering

and

Processing

   

Natural
Gas

Liquids

   

Pipelines

and

Storage

    Interstate
Natural Gas
Pipelines
    Other and
Eliminations
    Total        
     (Thousands of dollars)      

Net income

   $ 56,740     $ 34,056     $ 27,823     $ 16,522     $ (40,522 )   $ 94,619    

Minority interests

     -         -         92       -         -         92    

Interest expense

     (2,776 )     (2,011 )     (1,201 )     1,601           37,890       33,503    

Depreciation and amortization

     11,145       5,754       7,786       3,342       (14 )     28,013    

Income taxes

     -         -         37       824       1,103       1,964    

Equity AFUDC

     -         -         (985 )     (672 )     -         (1,657 )    

EBITDA

   $     65,109     $     37,799     $     33,552     $     21,617     $ (1,543 )   $     156,534    
 

 

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Table of Contents

Three Months Ended

June 30, 2006

  

Gathering

and

Processing

   

Natural
Gas

Liquids

   

Pipelines

and

Storage

    Interstate
Natural Gas
Pipelines
    Other and
Eliminations
    Total        
     (Thousands of dollars)      

Net income

   $ 53,900     $     29,552     $ 23,345     $ 132,855     $ (43,453 )   $     196,199    

Minority interests

     -         -         134       385       -         519    

Interest expense

     1       -         107       3,199       27,480       30,787    

Depreciation and amortization

     10,501       5,368       7,559       3,613       12,241       39,282    

Income taxes

     6       166       1,307       1,556       (1,751 )     1,284    

Equity AFUDC

     -         -         -         (170 )     -         (170 )    

EBITDA

   $ 64,408     $ 35,086     $ 32,452     $ 141,438     $ (5,483 )   $ 267,901    
 

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2007

  

Gathering

and

Processing

   

Natural
Gas

Liquids

   

Pipelines

and

Storage

    Interstate
Natural Gas
Pipelines
    Other and
Eliminations
    Total        
     (Thousands of dollars)      

Net income

   $ 95,201     $ 67,643     $ 58,933     $ 44,150     $ (75,552 )   $ 190,375    

Minority interests

     -         -         177       -         -         177    

Interest expense

     (4,934 )     (3,280 )     (3,134 )     3,319       73,832       65,803    

Depreciation and amortization

     22,267       11,086       15,563       6,597       13       55,526    

Income taxes

     -         -         74       2,946       1,821       4,841    

Equity AFUDC

     -         -         (1,890 )     (1,105 )     -         (2,995 )    

EBITDA

   $ 112,534     $ 75,449     $ 69,723     $ 55,907     $ 114     $ 313,727    
 

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2006

  

Gathering
and

Processing

   

Natural
Gas

Liquids

   

Pipelines

and

Storage

    Interstate
Natural Gas
Pipelines
    Other and
Eliminations
    Total        
     (Thousands of dollars)      

Net income

   $ 91,065     $ 34,588     $ 36,474     $ 164,829     $ (60,253 )   $ 266,703    

Minority interests

     -         -         272       1,866       -         2,138    

Interest expense

     4,590       8,866       7,887       6,942       38,936       67,221    

Depreciation and amortization

     21,068       10,767       15,142       7,362       12,413       66,752    

Income taxes

     10,800       3,252       9,567       3,747       (1,888 )     25,478    

Equity AFUDC

     -         -         -         (298 )     -         (298 )    

EBITDA

   $ 127,523     $ 57,473     $ 69,342     $ 184,448     $ (10,792 )   $ 427,994    
 

 

G. UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES

Equity Earnings from Investments - The following table sets forth our equity earnings from investments for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
   Six Months Ended
June 30,
       2007    2006    2007    2006       
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Northern Border Pipeline

   $     10,511    $     12,703    $     28,551    $     38,850   

Bighorn Gas Gathering, L.L.C.

     2,009      1,788      3,700      3,821   

Fort Union Gas Gathering

     2,567      2,330      5,155      4,278   

Venice Energy Services Company, L.L.C. (a)

     2,850      -        2,850      -     

Lost Creek Gathering Company, L.L.C.

     304      1,159      1,633      2,600   

Other

     517      341      924      413     

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 18,758    $ 18,321    $ 42,813    $ 49,962   
 

(a) - Venice Energy Services Company, L.L.C. is a cost method investment.

 

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Unconsolidated Affiliates Financial Information - Summarized combined financial information of our unconsolidated affiliates is presented below.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
   Six Months Ended
June 30,
       2007    2006    2007    2006
     (Thousands of dollars)

Income Statement

           

Operating revenue

   $ 88,619    $ 90,613    $   188,887    $ 188,499

Operating expenses

     43,561      40,427      82,705      77,028

Net income

     33,747      38,765      83,483      88,906

Distributions paid to us

   $ 30,611    $ 29,111    $ 57,066    $ 69,819

 

H. NET INCOME PER UNIT

Net income per unit is computed by dividing net income, after deducting the general partner’s allocation, by the weighted average number of outstanding limited partner units. The general partner owns a 2 percent interest in us and also owns incentive distribution rights that provide for an increasing proportion of cash distributions from the partnership as the distributions made to limited partners increase above specified levels. For purposes of our calculation of net income per unit, net income is generally allocated to the general partner as follows: (1) an amount based upon the 2 percent general partner interest in net income; and (2) the amount of the general partner’s incentive distribution rights based on the total cash distributions declared during the period. The amount of incentive distribution allocated to our general partner totaled $12.1 million and $23.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively. The $25.7 million distribution paid to our general partner shown on the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Changes in Partners’ Equity and Comprehensive Income included $22.0 million in incentive distributions paid to our general partner during the first six months of 2007. Gains resulting from interim capital transactions, as defined in our Partnership Agreement, are generally not subject to distribution; however, the Partnership Agreement provides that if such distributions were made, the incentive distribution rights would not apply. Accordingly, the gain (loss) on sale of assets for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 had no impact on the incentive distribution rights.

As discussed in Note B, we completed the ONEOK Transactions during the second quarter of 2006; however, for accounting purposes, the transactions were accounted for retroactive to January 1, 2006. Net income from the ONEOK Energy Assets prior to the April 2006 acquisition was approximately $35.8 million and has been reflected in our year-to-date earnings for 2006. For purposes of our calculation of income per unit for the six months ended June 30, 2006, these pre-acquisition earnings were allocated to the general partner as they retained the related cash flow for that period.

On April 17, 2007, we declared a cash distribution of $0.99 per unit ($3.96 per unit on an annualized basis) for the first quarter of 2007. The distribution was paid on May 14, 2007, to unitholders of record as of April 30, 2007. On July 17, 2007, we declared a cash distribution of $1.00 per unit ($4.00 per unit on an annualized basis) for the second quarter of 2007. The distribution will be paid on August 14, 2007, to unitholders of record as of July 31, 2007.

 

I. RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Intersegment and affiliate sales are recorded on the same basis as sales to unaffiliated customers. Our Gathering and Processing segment sells natural gas to ONEOK and its subsidiaries. A significant portion of our Pipelines and Storage segment’s revenues are from ONEOK and its subsidiaries, which utilize both transportation and storage services. Our Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines segment provides transportation services to ONEOK and its subsidiaries.

As part of the ONEOK Transactions, we acquired certain contractual rights to the Bushton Plant that is leased by OBPI. Our Processing and Services Agreement with ONEOK and OBPI sets out the terms by which OBPI provides services at the Bushton Plant through 2012. We have contracted for all of the capacity of the Bushton Plant from OBPI. In exchange, we pay OBPI for all direct costs and expenses of the Bushton Plant, including reimbursement of a portion of OBPI’s obligations under equipment leases covering the Bushton Plant. Volumes available for processing at this straddle plant have declined due to contract terminations and natural field declines, which made it more efficient to process the remaining natural gas at other facilities. On January 1, 2007, the Bushton Plant was temporarily idled. New facilities are being added to the Bushton Plant. The Bushton Plant will resume operations once these facilities are complete and Overland Pass Pipeline begins operating.

 

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In April 2006, we entered into a Services Agreement with ONEOK, ONEOK Partners GP and NBP Services (the Services Agreement) that replaced the Administrative Services Agreement between us and NBP Services. Under the Services Agreement, our operations and the operations of ONEOK and its affiliates can combine or share certain common services in order to operate more efficiently and cost effectively. Under the Services Agreement, ONEOK will provide to us at least the type and amount of services that it provides to its affiliates, including those services required to be provided pursuant to our Partnership Agreement. ONEOK Partners GP will continue to operate our interstate natural gas pipeline assets according to each pipeline’s operating agreement, except for the operating agreement between ONEOK Partners GP and Northern Border Pipeline, which terminated effective April 1, 2007. ONEOK Partners GP may purchase services from ONEOK and its affiliates pursuant to the terms of the Services Agreement. ONEOK Partners GP has no employees and utilizes the services of ONEOK and ONEOK Services Company to fulfill its responsibilities.

ONEOK and its affiliates provide a variety of services to us under the Services Agreement, including cash management and financing services, employee benefits provided through ONEOK’s benefit plans, administrative services, insurance and office space leased in ONEOK’s headquarters building and other field locations. Where costs are specifically incurred on behalf of one of our affiliates, the costs are billed directly to us by ONEOK. In other situations, the costs may be allocated to us through a variety of methods, depending upon the nature of the expense and activities. For example, a service that applies equally to all employees is allocated based upon the number of employees. However, an expense benefiting the consolidated company but having no direct basis for allocation is allocated by the modified Distrigas method, a method using a combination of ratios that include gross plant and investment, operating income and wages. All costs directly charged or allocated to us are included in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

An affiliate of ONEOK enters into some of the commodity derivative contracts at the direction of and on behalf of our Gathering and Processing segment. See Note C for a discussion of our derivative instruments and hedging activities.

The following table sets forth the transactions with related parties for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
   Six Months Ended
June 30,
    
       2007    2006    2007    2006       
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Revenues

   $ 164,794    $ 97,565    $ 321,130    $ 248,492   
 

Expenses

              

Administrative and general expenses

   $ 34,795    $ 44,419    $ 74,598    $ 74,271   

Interest expense

     —        —        —        21,281     

Total expenses

   $ 34,795    $ 44,419    $ 74,598    $ 95,552   
 

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. Due to the seasonal nature of our business, the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a 12-month period.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The following discussion highlights some of our achievements and significant issues affecting us for the periods presented. Please refer to the Financial and Operating Results section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Consolidated Financial Statements for a complete explanation of the following items.

In July 2007, we declared an increase in our cash distribution to $1.00 per unit ($4.00 per unit on an annualized basis), an increase of approximately five percent over the $0.95 declared in July 2006.

Net income per unit decreased to $0.97 for the three months ended June 30, 2007, compared with $2.22 in 2006. For the six-month period, net income per unit decreased to $1.97 from $3.33 for the same period last year. The decreases in net income per unit are primarily due to the gain on sale of a 20 percent partnership interest in Northern Border Pipeline in the second quarter of 2006. Excluding the gain (loss) on sale of assets, operating income increased to $107.9 million for the three-month period compared with $98.7 million for the same period last year and to $210.1 million for the six month-period compared with $197.6 million for the same period last year. Our Natural Gas Liquids segment benefited from higher product price spreads; higher isomerization price spreads; and increased natural gasoline sales used in the production of ethanol fuel. This increase was partially offset by decreased net margin in our Gathering and Processing segment, primarily due to lower volumes processed associated with the anticipated contract terminations at certain processing facilities.

SIGNIFICANT ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

Acquisition of NGL Pipeline - In July 2007, we announced our agreement to acquire an interstate natural gas liquids and refined petroleum products pipeline system and related assets from a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. for approximately $300 million. The system extends from Bushton and Conway, Kansas, to Chicago, Illinois, and transports, stores and delivers a full range of NGL and refined products. The FERC-regulated system spans more than 1,600 miles and has a capacity to transport up to 125,000 Bbl/d. The transaction includes approximately 950,000 Bbl of storage capacity, eight NGL terminals and 50 percent ownership of the Heartland Pipeline Company (Heartland). ConocoPhillips owns the other 50 percent of Heartland and is the managing partner of the Heartland joint venture, which consists primarily of three refined products terminals and connecting pipelines. In addition, ConocoPhillips has a right of first refusal to purchase the 50 percent ownership interest in Heartland that we are seeking to acquire. We expect to close the transaction, subject to regulatory approval, in the third quarter of 2007. Financing for this transaction will come from available cash and short-term credit facilities. These assets will be included in our Pipelines and Storage segment.

ONEOK Transactions - In April 2006, we completed the acquisition and consolidated certain companies comprising ONEOK’s former gathering and processing, natural gas liquids, and pipelines and storage segments (collectively, the ONEOK Energy Assets) in a series of transactions, (collectively the ONEOK Transactions). This acquisition is accounted for in our Gathering and Processing, Natural Gas Liquids, and Pipelines and Storage segments.

Acquisition of ONEOK Energy Assets - We acquired the ONEOK Energy Assets for approximately $3 billion, including $1.35 billion in cash, before adjustments, and approximately 36.5 million Class B limited partner units. The Class B limited partner units and the related general partner interest contribution were valued at approximately $1.65 billion. ONEOK now owns approximately 37.0 million of our limited partner units which, when combined with its general partner interest, increased its total interest in us to approximately 45.7 percent. We used $1.05 billion drawn under our $1.1 billion, 364-day credit agreement (the Bridge Facility), coupled with the proceeds from the sale of a 20 percent partnership interest in Northern Border Pipeline, to finance the cash portion of the transaction. The assets were recorded at historical cost rather than at fair value since these transactions were between affiliates under common control. These assets and their related operations are included in our consolidated financial statements retroactive to January 1, 2006.

 

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Equity Issuance - In connection with the ONEOK Transactions, we amended our Partnership Agreement to provide for the issuance of Class B limited partner units and issued approximately 36.5 million Class B limited partner units to ONEOK. The Class B limited partner units were issued on April 6, 2006. For more information regarding the Class B units, refer to discussion of the ONEOK Transactions in Note B of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Purchase and Sale of General Partner Interest - In April 2006, ONEOK acquired ONEOK NB, formerly known as Northwest Border Pipeline Company, an affiliate of TransCanada that held a 0.35 percent general partner interest in us. As a result, ONEOK now owns our entire 2 percent general partner interest and controls us.

Disposition of 20 Percent Partnership Interest in Northern Border Pipeline - In April 2006, we completed the sale of a 20 percent partnership interest in Northern Border Pipeline to TC PipeLines for approximately $297 million to help finance the acquisition of the ONEOK Energy Assets. We recorded a gain on the sale of approximately $113.9 million in the second quarter of 2006. We and TC PipeLines each now own a 50 percent interest in Northern Border Pipeline and an affiliate of TransCanada became the operator of the pipeline in April 2007. Effective January 1, 2006, our interest in Northern Border Pipeline is accounted for as an investment under the equity method in our Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines segment.

Acquisition of Guardian Pipeline Interests - In April 2006, we acquired the 66-2/3 percent interest in Guardian Pipeline not previously owned by us for approximately $77 million, increasing our ownership to 100 percent. We used borrowings from our credit facility to fund the acquisition of the additional interest in Guardian Pipeline. Guardian Pipeline is consolidated in our consolidated financial statements and reported in our Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines segment as of January 1, 2006.

CAPITAL PROJECTS

Overland Pass Pipeline Company - In May 2006, we entered into an agreement with a subsidiary of The Williams Companies, Inc. (Williams) to form a joint venture called Overland Pass Pipeline Company. Overland Pass Pipeline Company will build a 760-mile natural gas liquids pipeline from Opal, Wyoming, to the Mid-Continent natural gas liquids market center in Conway, Kansas. The pipeline will be initially designed to transport approximately 110,000 Bbl/d of NGLs, which can be increased to approximately 150,000 Bbl/d with additional pump facilities. As the 99 percent owner of the joint venture, we will manage the construction project, advance all costs associated with construction and operate the pipeline. Within two years of the pipeline becoming operational, Williams will have the option to increase its ownership up to 50 percent by reimbursing us for its proportionate share of all construction costs. If Williams exercises its option to increase its ownership to the full 50 percent, Williams would have the option to become operator. This project requires the approval of various state and federal regulatory authorities. Assuming Overland Pass Pipeline Company obtains the required regulatory approvals as scheduled, we currently expect construction of the pipeline to begin in the fall of 2007, with start up scheduled for early 2008.

As part of a long-term agreement, Williams dedicated its NGL production from two of its natural gas processing plants in Wyoming to the joint-venture company. We will provide downstream fractionation, storage and transportation services to Williams. The pipeline project is currently estimated to cost approximately $433 million, excluding AFUDC. During 2006, we paid $11.6 million to Williams for acquisition of our interest in the joint venture and for reimbursement of initial capital expenditures. In addition, we are investing approximately $216 million, excluding AFUDC, to expand our existing fractionation capabilities and the capacity of our natural gas liquids distribution pipelines. Financing for the projects may include a combination of short- or long-term debt or equity. Overland Pass Pipeline Company is included in our Pipelines and Storage segment while the associated expansions are included in our Natural Gas Liquids segment and Pipelines and Storage segment.

Piceance Lateral Pipeline - In March 2007, we announced that Overland Pass Pipeline Company plans to construct a 150-mile lateral pipeline to transport as much as 100,000 Bbl/d of NGLs from the Piceance Basin in Colorado to the Overland Pass Pipeline. Williams announced that it intends to construct a new natural gas processing plant in the Piceance Basin and will dedicate its NGL production from that plant and an existing plant to be delivered into the lateral pipeline. This project requires the approval of various state and federal regulatory authorities. Assuming we obtain the required regulatory approvals, we currently expect construction of this lateral pipeline to begin in the summer of 2008 and be completed in early 2009, at a current cost estimate of approximately $120 million, excluding AFUDC. This project is in our Pipelines and Storage segment.

 

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Arbuckle Pipeline Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline Project - In March 2007, we announced plans to build the 440-mile Arbuckle Pipeline, a natural gas liquids pipeline from southern Oklahoma through northern Texas and continuing on to the Texas Gulf Coast, at a cost of $260 million, excluding AFUDC. The Arbuckle Pipeline will have the capacity to transport 160,000 Bbl/d of raw natural gas liquids and will interconnect with our existing Mid-Continent infrastructure and our fractionation facility in Mont Belvieu, Texas, and other Gulf Coast-area fractionators. The expansion project is expected to be complete by early 2009. This project is in our Pipelines and Storage segment.

Williston Basin Gas Processing Plant Expansion - In March 2007, we announced the expansion of our Grasslands natural gas processing facility in North Dakota at a cost of $30 million, excluding AFUDC. The Grasslands facility is our largest natural gas processing plant in the Williston Basin. The expansion will increase processing capacity to approximately 100 MMcf/d from its current capacity of 63 MMcf/d as well as increasing fractionation capacity to approximately 10,000 Bbl/d from 7,700 Bbl/d. The expansion project is expected to come on line in phases starting in late summer of 2007 through the first quarter of 2008. This project is in our Gathering and Processing segment.

Fort Union Gas Gathering Expansion Project - In January 2007, our Crestone Powder River, L.L.C. subsidiary announced that Fort Union Gas Gathering will double its existing gathering pipeline capacity by adding 148 miles of new gathering lines and 649 MMcf/d of additional capacity in the Powder River basin. The expansion is expected to cost approximately $110 million, excluding AFUDC, which will be financed within the Fort Union Gas Gathering partnership and will occur in two phases, with 240 MMcf/d expected to be in service by the fourth quarter of 2007 and 409 MMcf/d by the first quarter of 2008. The additional capacity has been fully subscribed for 10 years beginning with the in-service date of the expansion. Crestone Powder River, L.L.C. owns approximately 37 percent of Fort Union Gas Gathering. This project is in our Gathering and Processing segment and is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

Guardian Pipeline Expansion and Extension Project - In October 2006, Guardian Pipeline filed its application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity with the FERC for authorization to construct and operate approximately 110 miles of new mainline pipe, two compressor stations, seven meter stations and other associated facilities. The pipeline expansion will extend Guardian Pipeline from the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, area to the Green Bay, Wisconsin, area. The project is supported by long-term shipper commitments. The cost of the project is estimated to be $250 million, excluding AFUDC, with a targeted in-service date of November 2008. This project is in our Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines segment.

Midwestern Gas Transmission Eastern Extension Project - In March 2006, Midwestern Gas Transmission accepted the certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the FERC for its Eastern Extension Project. An organization that is opposed to, and includes landowners affected by, the project filed a request for rehearing and for a stay of the March 2006 Order. In August 2006, the FERC denied those requests. In July 2007, we received FERC authorization to construct, which is a notice to proceed. Construction has begun and the pipeline extension is anticipated to be in service in the fourth quarter of 2007. The Eastern Extension Project will add 31 miles of pipeline with 120 MDth/d (approximately 120 MMcf/d) of transportation capacity with total capital expenditures estimated to be $41 million, excluding AFUDC. This project is in our Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines segment.

IMPACT OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Information about the impact of Statement 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” Statement 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” and FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,” is included in Note A of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions with respect to values or conditions that cannot be known with certainty that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. These estimates and assumptions also affect the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Although we believe these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from our estimates.

Information about our critical accounting estimates is included under Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

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FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESULTS

Consolidated Operations

Selected Financial Information - The following table sets forth certain selected consolidated financial information for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
  

Six Months Ended

June 30,

    
Financial Results    2007     2006    2007    2006       
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Operating revenue

   $     1,370,377     $     1,159,350    $     2,531,849    $     2,329,180   

Cost of sales and fuel

     1,153,997       947,584      2,110,322      1,915,719     

Net margin

     216,380       211,766      421,527      413,461   

Operating costs

     80,430       73,766      155,891      149,122   

Depreciation and amortization

     28,013       39,282      55,526      66,752   

Gain (loss) on sale of assets

     (379 )     114,061      1,824      115,366     

Operating income

   $ 107,558     $ 212,779    $ 211,934    $ 312,953   
 

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 18,758     $ 18,321    $ 42,813    $ 49,962   

Interest expense

   $ 33,503     $ 30,787    $ 65,803    $ 67,221   

Minority interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries

   $ 92     $ 519    $ 177    $ 2,138     

Operating Results - Net margin increased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, primarily due to our Natural Gas Liquids segment, which benefited from higher product price spreads; higher isomerization price spreads; and increased natural gasoline sales used in the production of ethanol fuel. This increase was partially offset by decreased net margin in our Gathering and Processing segment, primarily due to lower volumes processed associated with the anticipated contract terminations at certain processing facilities.

Operating costs increased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, primarily due to higher employee-related costs.

Depreciation and amortization decreased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, primarily due to a goodwill and asset impairment charge of $11.8 million recorded in the second quarter of 2006 related to Black Mesa Pipeline, Inc., which is included in our Other segment.

Gain (loss) on sale of assets decreased for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, primarily due to the $113.9 million gain on sale of a 20 percent partnership interest in Northern Border Pipeline recorded at second quarter of 2006 in our Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines segment.

Equity earnings from investments for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, primarily include earnings from our interest in Northern Border Pipeline. The decrease in equity earnings from investments for the six-month period is primarily due to the decrease in our share of Northern Border Pipeline’s earnings from 70 percent in the first quarter of 2006 to 50 percent beginning in the second quarter of 2006. See page 21 for discussion of the disposition of the 20 percent partnership interest in Northern Border Pipeline.

Minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiaries decreased for the six months ended June 30, 2007, compared with the same period in 2006, primarily due to Guardian Pipeline. Minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiaries for the six months ended June 30, 2006, included the 66-2/3 percent interest in Guardian Pipeline that we did not own until April 2006. We owned 100 percent of Guardian Pipeline beginning in April 2006, resulting in no minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiaries related to Guardian Pipeline for the six months ended June 30, 2007.

More information regarding our results of operations is provided in the following discussion of operating results for each of our segments.

 

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Gathering and Processing

Overview - Our operations include gathering of natural gas production from crude oil and natural gas wells. We gather natural gas in the Mid-Continent region, which includes the Anadarko Basin of Oklahoma and the Hugoton and Central Kansas Uplift Basins of Kansas. We also gather natural gas in three producing basins in the Rocky Mountain region: (1) the Williston Basin, which spans portions of Montana, North Dakota and the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, (2) the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and (3) the Wind River Basin of Wyoming.

Through gathering systems, volumes are aggregated for removal of water vapor, solids and other contaminants and to extract NGLs in order to provide marketable natural gas, commonly referred to as residue gas. When the liquids are separated from the raw natural gas at the processing plants, the liquids are in the form of a mixed NGL stream. This mixed NGL stream is generally shipped to fractionators, where by applying heat and pressure, the raw NGL stream is separated into marketable products, such as ethane/propane mix, propane, iso-butane, normal butane and natural gasoline (collectively, NGL products). These NGL products can then be stored, transported and marketed to a diverse customer base.

Selected Financial and Operating Information - The following tables set forth certain selected financial and operating results for our Gathering and Processing segment for the periods indicated.

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

  

Six Months Ended

June 30,

    
Financial Results    2007     2006    2007    2006       
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Natural gas liquids and condensate sales

   $     156,378     $     163,117    $     286,454    $     312,734   

Gas sales

     169,684       152,746      328,384      374,288   

Gathering, compression, dehydration and processing fees and other revenue

     36,695       32,011      70,800      61,593   

Cost of sales and fuel

     274,353       257,960      523,867      570,085     

Net margin

     88,404       89,914      161,771      178,530   

Operating costs

     30,601       33,134      64,591      64,637   

Depreciation and amortization

     11,145       10,501      22,267      21,068   

Gain (loss) on sale of assets

     (384 )     59      1,813      365     

Operating income

   $ 46,274     $ 46,338    $ 76,726    $ 93,190   
 

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 7,730     $ 5,277    $ 13,338    $ 10,699     
    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

  

Six Months Ended

June 30,

    
Operating Information    2007     2006    2007    2006       

Total gas gathered (BBtu/d)

     1,188       1,142      1,178      1,149   

Total gas processed (BBtu/d)

     619       993      614      958   

Natural gas liquids sales (MBbl/d)

     38       41      37      41   

Natural gas liquids produced (MBbl/d)

     40       53      39      52   

Natural gas sales (BBtu/d)

     273       288      271      298   

Capital expenditures (Thousands of dollars)

   $ 23,082     $ 14,581    $ 38,833    $ 22,398   

Realized composite NGL sales price ($/gallon)

   $ 0.99     $ 0.96    $ 0.91    $ 0.91   

Realized condensate sales price ($/Bbl)

   $ 59.79     $ 59.83    $ 58.06    $ 58.65   

Realized natural gas sales price ($/MMBtu)

   $ 6.83     $ 5.81    $ 6.71    $ 6.88   

Realized gross processing spread ($/MMBtu)

   $ 4.55     $ 6.11    $ 4.08    $ 4.70     

 

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     Three Months Ended
June 30,
   

Six Months Ended

June 30,

     
       2007     2006     2007     2006        

Percent of proceeds

          

Wellhead purchases (MMBtu/d)

     86,281       124,676       91,325       125,907    

NGL sales (Bbl/d)

     6,113       7,346       6,044       7,131    

Residue sales (MMBtu/d)

     30,441       29,675       30,406       28,905    

Condensate sales (Bbl/d)

     740       1,125       711       1,115    

Percentage of total net margin

     57 %     55 %     57 %     61 %  

Fee-based

          

Wellhead volumes (MMBtu/d)

       1,188,139         1,142,586         1,178,325         1,149,272    

Average rate ($/MMBtu)

   $ 0.25     $ 0.23     $ 0.25     $ 0.22    

Percentage of total net margin

     32 %     26 %     33 %     25 %  

Keep-whole

          

NGL shrink (MMBtu/d)

     23,837       34,709       24,351       36,974    

Plant fuel (MMBtu/d)

     2,788       4,813       2,924       4,861    

Condensate shrink (MMBtu/d)

     2,223       3,203       2,546       3,234    

Condensate sales (Bbl/d)

     450       658       515       664    

Percentage of total net margin

     11 %     19 %     10 %     14 %    

Operating Results - Net margin decreased $1.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to:

   

a decrease of $3.9 million from lower volumes processed primarily due to the anticipated contract terminations at certain processing facilities, partially offset by

   

an increase of $1.6 million in improved contractual terms in our gathering business.

Net margin decreased $16.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to:

   

a decrease of $10.9 million from lower volumes processed primarily due to the anticipated contract terminations at certain processing facilities,

   

a decrease of $10.6 million due to lower realized commodity prices, and

   

a decrease of $1.0 million due to weather-related outages caused by winter storms in the Mid-Continent region, partially offset by

   

an increase of $5.7 million in improved contractual terms in our gathering business.

Operating costs decreased by $2.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, primarily due to lower legal costs, partially offset by higher employee-related costs.

The increase in earnings from investments for both the three- and six-month periods is driven primarily by the earnings related to distributions recorded in these periods from our 10.2 percent interest in Venice Energy Services Company, L.L.C., which is accounted for under the cost method.

The increase in capital expenditures for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, compared with the same periods last year, is driven primarily by our capital projects which are discussed beginning on page 21.

Our Gathering and Processing segment is exposed to commodity price risk, primarily from NGLs, as a result of our contractual obligations for services provided. A small percentage of our services are provided through keep-whole arrangements. Our realized gross processing spread for the periods reported was above the five-year average of $2.55 per MMBtu. Based on current market conditions, the gross processing spread for the remainder of 2007 is expected to be above the five-year average. See discussion regarding our commodity price risk beginning on page 34 under “Commodity Price Risk” in Item 3, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

 

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Natural Gas Liquids

Overview - Our Natural Gas Liquids segment gathers, stores, fractionates and treats raw NGLs produced by natural gas processing plants located in Oklahoma, Kansas and the Texas panhandle. We connect the NGL production basins in Oklahoma, Kansas and the Texas panhandle with the key NGL market centers in Conway, Kansas, and Mont Belvieu, Texas.

Most natural gas produced at the wellhead contains a mixture of NGL components such as ethane, propane, iso-butane, normal butane and natural gasoline. Natural gas processing plants remove the NGLs from the natural gas stream to realize the higher economic value of the NGLs and to meet natural gas pipeline quality specifications, which limit NGLs in the natural gas stream due to liquid and Btu content. The NGLs that are separated from the natural gas stream at the natural gas processing plants remain in a mixed, raw form until they are gathered, primarily by pipeline, and delivered to our fractionators. A fractionator, by applying heat and pressure, separates the raw NGL stream into marketable products, such as ethane/propane mix, propane, iso-butane, normal butane and natural gasoline (collectively, NGL products). These NGL products are then stored and/or distributed to our customers, such as petrochemical plants, heating fuel users and motor gasoline manufacturers.

Selected Financial and Operating Information —The following tables set forth certain selected financial and operating results for our Natural Gas Liquids segment for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
  

Six Months Ended

June 30,

    
Financial Results    2007    2006    2007    2006       
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Natural gas liquids and condensate sales

   $     994,601    $     827,368    $     1,793,599    $     1,607,196   

Storage and fractionation revenue

     73,034      54,157      134,968      93,752   

Cost of sales and fuel

     1,013,222      830,980      1,822,099      1,616,661     

Net margin

     54,413      50,545      106,468      84,287   

Operating costs

     16,874      15,945      31,600      27,169   

Depreciation and amortization

     5,754      5,368      11,086      10,767   

Gain on sale of assets

     3      5      4      11     

Operating income

   $ 31,788    $ 29,237    $ 63,786    $ 46,362   
 

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 414    $ 316    $ 693    $ 144     
     Three Months Ended
June 30,
  

Six Months Ended

June 30,

    
Operating Information    2007    2006    2007    2006       

Natural gas liquids gathered (MBbl/d)

     224      213      217      203   

Natural gas liquids sales (MBbl/d)

     221      199      221      203   

Natural gas liquids fractionated (MBbl/d)

     349      333      334      309   

Conway-to-Mont Belvieu OPIS average spread

              

Ethane/Propane mixture ($/gallon)

   $ 0.05    $ 0.03    $ 0.05    $ 0.03   

Capital expenditures (Thousands of dollars)

   $ 15,067    $ 5,023    $ 22,534    $ 7,977     

Operating Results - Net margin increased $3.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to higher product price spreads between Mont Belvieu, Texas, and Conway, Kansas; higher isomerization price spreads; increased natural gasoline sales used in the production of ethanol fuel; and higher fractionation and exchange volumes.

Net margin increased $22.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, compared with the same period last year due to the following:

   

$10.5 million due to higher product price spreads between Mont Belvieu, Texas, and Conway, Kansas; higher isomerization price spreads; and increased natural gasoline sales used in the production of ethanol fuel,

   

$7.7 million due to higher exchange net margin primarily driven by increased volumes due to new supply connections, improved natural gas processing economics, and increased volumes and higher margins at our Mont Belvieu fractionator, and

   

$4.0 million due to new storage contracts entered into in the second quarter of 2007 and our acquisition of the Mont Belvieu storage business in the fourth quarter of 2006.

 

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Operating costs increased for the six-month period primarily due to higher employee-related costs and general taxes, as well as the acquisition of the Mont Belvieu storage business in the fourth quarter of 2006.

The increase in capital expenditures for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, compared with the same periods last year, is driven primarily by our growth activities for new supply connections. See discussion of our growth activities beginning on page 21.

Pipelines and Storage

Overview - Our Pipelines and Storage segment operates regulated intrastate natural gas transmission pipelines, natural gas storage facilities, regulated natural gas liquids gathering and distribution pipelines, and non-processable natural gas gathering facilities. We also provide regulated interstate natural gas transportation and storage service in accordance with Section 311(a) of the Natural Gas Policy Act.

In Oklahoma, we have access to the major natural gas producing areas and transport natural gas and NGLs throughout the state. We also have access to the major natural gas producing area in south central Kansas. In Texas, we are connected to the major natural gas producing areas in the Texas panhandle and the Permian Basin, and transport natural gas to the Waha Hub, where other pipelines may be accessed for transportation east to the Houston Ship Channel market, north into the Mid-Continent market and west to the California market. Our natural gas liquids gathering connections deliver raw NGLs gathered in Oklahoma, Kansas and the Texas panhandle to our fractionation facilities and to our natural gas liquids distribution pipelines, which provide access to two of the main NGL market centers in Conway, Kansas, and Mont Belvieu, Texas.

Selected Financial and Operating Information —The following tables set forth certain selected financial and operating results for our Pipelines and Storage segment for the periods indicated.

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

  

Six Months Ended

June 30,

    
Financial Results    2007    2006    2007    2006       
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Transportation and gathering revenue

   $     46,460    $     44,317    $     95,247    $     90,132   

Storage revenue

     14,912      13,014      27,405      25,158   

Gas sales and other revenue

     458      1,940      3,066      6,893   

Cost of sales and fuel

     9,579      8,630      18,772      19,421     

Net margin

     52,251      50,641      106,946      102,762   

Operating costs

     18,761      18,082      37,621      34,872   

Depreciation and amortization

     7,786      7,559      15,563      15,142   

Gain on sale of assets

     2      1      7      994     

Operating income

   $ 25,706    $ 25,001    $ 53,769    $ 53,742   
 

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 103    $ 25    $ 231    $ 269   

Minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiaries

   $ 92    $ 134    $ 177    $ 272     
    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

  

Six Months Ended

June 30,

    
Operating Information    2007    2006    2007    2006       

Natural gas transported (MMcf/d)

     1,172      1,242      1,370      1,357   

Natural gas liquids transported (MBbl/d)

     227      208      216      201   

Natural gas liquids gathered (MBbl/d)

     78      58      74      57   

Capital expenditures (Thousands of dollars)

   $ 67,668    $ 11,914    $ 101,357    $ 15,490   

Average natural gas price

              

Mid-Continent region ( $/MMBtu )

   $ 6.53    $ 5.57    $ 6.41    $ 6.40     

Operating Results - Net margin increased $1.6 million and $4.2 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, compared with the same periods last year, primarily due to the following:

   

an increase of $1.8 million and $4.8 million, respectively, from the natural gas liquids gathering and distribution pipelines as a result of increased throughput from new natural gas processing plant connections,

   

an increase of $2.3 million and $2.9 million, respectively, from natural gas storage as a result of new and renegotiated contracts and an improved fuel position, partially offset by

 

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a decrease of $1.6 million and $1.1 million, respectively, from natural gas transportation as a result of lower demand for natural gas-fired electric generation and a decreased fuel position, and

   

a decrease of $0.8 million and $1.5 million, respectively, due to the expiration of the amortization of reimbursements associated with a natural gas transportation construction project.

Operating costs increased $2.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, compared with the same periods last year primarily due to higher employee-related costs.

The increase in capital expenditures for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, compared with the same periods last year, is driven primarily by our capital projects, which are discussed beginning on page 21.

Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines

Overview - Our Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines segment, which transports natural gas primarily from the western Canada Sedimentary Basin to the Midwestern United States along approximately 1,270 miles of pipelines with a design capacity of approximately 2.0 Bcf/d, consists of our regulated interstate natural gas transmission pipelines, which are:

   

Guardian Pipeline,

   

Midwestern Gas Transmission,

   

Viking Gas Transmission,

   

OkTex Pipeline, and

   

a 50 percent interest in Northern Border Pipeline.

Operating revenue for this segment is derived from transportation contracts at rates that are stated in our FERC-regulated tariffs. Tariffs specify the maximum rates we can charge our customers and the general terms and conditions for natural gas transportation service on our pipelines. Our pipelines’ tariffs also allow for services to be provided under negotiated and discounted rates. Transportation rates are established periodically in FERC proceedings known as a rate case. Our transportation contracts include specifications regarding the receipt and delivery of natural gas at points along the pipeline systems. The type of transportation contract, either firm or interruptible service, determines the basis by which each customer is charged.

Selected Financial and Operating Information - The following tables set forth certain selected financial and operating results for our Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines segment for the periods indicated.

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
   Six Months Ended
June 30,
    
Financial Results    2007    2006    2007    2006       
     (Thousands of dollars)     

Transportation revenue

   $     21,445    $     23,229    $     45,026    $     48,783   

Cost of sales

     -        -        -        -       

Net margin

     21,445      23,229      45,026      48,783   

Operating costs

     10,321      8,384      17,713      17,122   

Depreciation and amortization

     3,342      3,613      6,597      7,362   

Gain on sale of assets

     -        113,877      -        113,877     

Operating income

   $ 7,782    $ 125,109    $ 20,716    $ 138,176   
 

Equity earnings from investments

   $ 10,511    $ 12,703    $ 28,551    $ 38,850   

Minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiaries

   $ -      $ 385    $ -      $ 1,866     
     Three Months Ended
June 30,
   Six Months Ended
June 30,
    
Operating Information (a)    2007    2006    2007    2006       

Natural gas transported (MMcf/d)

     850      848      939      949   

Capital expenditures (Thousands of dollars)

   $ 23,764    $ 3,783    $ 39,714    $ 6,905     
(a) Includes volumes for consolidated entities only.               

 

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Operating Results - During the second quarter of 2006, we sold a 20 percent partnership interest in Northern Border Pipeline and recorded a gain on sale of approximately $113.9 million.

Transportation revenue decreased $1.8 million and $3.8 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, compared with the same periods last year due to the following:

   

a decrease of $0.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively, related to decreased demand fee revenue due to lower contracted volumes and

   

a decrease of $0.8 million and $2.1 million, respectively, from lower throughput and a decreased fuel position on Midwestern Gas Transmission.

Operating costs increased $1.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, compared with the same period last year, primarily due to higher employee-related costs.

Equity earnings from investments for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, primarily include earnings from our interest in Northern Border Pipeline. The decrease of $2.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, compared with the same period last year, is primarily a result of lower revenues and the one-time cost of transitioning operating responsibilities from us to TC PipeLines. The decrease in equity earnings from investments of $10.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, compared with the same period last year, is primarily due to the decrease in our share of Northern Border Pipeline’s earnings from 70 percent in the first quarter of 2006 to 50 percent beginning in the second quarter of 2006. See page 21 for discussion of the disposition of the 20 percent partnership interest in Northern Border Pipeline.

Minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiaries for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, included the 66-2/3 percent interest in Guardian Pipeline. In April 2006 we acquired 100 percent of Guardian Pipeline, resulting in no minority interest in income of consolidated subsidiaries related to Guardian Pipeline for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007.

The increase in capital expenditures for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, compared with the same period last year is driven primarily by our capital projects, which are discussed beginning on page 21.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

General - Our principal sources of liquidity include cash generated from operating activities, bank credit facilities, debt issuances and the sale of limited partner units. We fund our operating expenses, debt service and cash distributions to our limited partners and general partner primarily with operating cash flow.

Part of our growth strategy is to expand our existing businesses and strategically acquire related businesses that strengthen and complement our existing assets. Capital resources for acquisitions and maintenance and growth expenditures may be funded by a variety of sources, including those listed above as our principal sources of liquidity. Our ability to access capital markets for debt and equity financing under reasonable terms depends on our financial condition, credit ratings and market conditions. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, our capital expenditures were financed through operating cash flows and short- and long-term debt. Capital expenditures for the first six months of 2007 were $202.4 million, compared with $53.6 million for the same period in 2006, exclusive of acquisitions. The increase in capital expenditures for 2007 compared with 2006 is driven primarily by our capital projects, which are discussed beginning on page 21.

We believe that our ability to obtain financing and our history of consistent cash flow from operating activities provide a solid foundation to meet our future liquidity and capital resource requirements.

Financing - Financing is provided through available cash, our amended and restated five-year revolving credit agreement (2007 Partnership Credit Agreement) and long-term debt. Other options to obtain financing include, but are not limited to, issuance of limited partner units, issuance of hybrid securities such as any trust preferred security or deferrable interest subordinated debt issued by us or any business trusts and sale/leaseback of facilities.

The total amount of short-term borrowings authorized by our general partner’s Board of Directors is $1.5 billion. At June 30, 2007, we had $10 million in letters of credit issued, $105 million in borrowings outstanding under the 2007 Partnership Credit Agreement and available cash and short-term investments of approximately $82.7 million. Additionally, we had no borrowings drawn under the $10 million Guardian Pipeline revolving credit agreement. The Guardian Pipeline revolving credit agreement terminates in November 2007. As of June 30, 2007, we could have issued $1.1 billion of additional debt under the most restrictive provisions contained in our various borrowing agreements.

 

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In July 2007, we exercised the accordion feature of our 2007 Partnership Credit Agreement to increase the commitment amounts by $250 million to a total of $1.0 billion.

Our 2007 Partnership Credit Agreement and Guardian Pipeline’s revolving note agreement contain typical covenants as discussed in Note E of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Note E of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. At June 30, 2007, we were in compliance with all covenants.

Equity Issuance - In connection with the ONEOK Transactions, we amended our Partnership Agreement to provide for the issuance of Class B limited partner units and issued approximately 36.5 million Class B limited partner units to ONEOK. The Class B limited partner units were issued on April 6, 2006. For more information regarding the Class B units, refer to discussion of the ONEOK Transactions in Note B of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Capitalization Structure - The following table sets forth our capitalization structure for the periods indicated.

 

       June 30,
2007
    December 31,
2006
       

Long-term Debt

   48 %   48 %  

Equity

   52 %   52 %    

Debt (including notes payable)

   49 %   48 %  

Equity

   51 %   52 %    

Credit Ratings - Our credit ratings as of June 30, 2007, are shown in the table below.

 

Rating Agency    Rating    Outlook       

Moody’s

   Baa2    Stable   

S&P

   BBB    Stable     

Our credit ratings may be affected by a material change in our financial ratios or a material event affecting our business. The most common criteria for assessment of our credit ratings are the debt to EBITDA ratio, interest coverage, business risk profile and liquidity. If our credit ratings were downgraded, the interest rates on the 2007 Partnership Credit Agreement borrowings would increase, resulting in an increase in our cost to borrow funds.

Our $250 million and $225 million long-term notes payable, due 2010 and 2011, respectively, contain provisions that require us to offer to repurchase the senior notes at par value if either our Moody’s or S&P credit ratings falls below investment grade (Baa3 for Moody’s and BBB- for S&P) and the investment grade ratings are not reinstated within a period of 40 days. Further, the indentures governing our senior notes due 2010 and 2011 include an event of default upon acceleration of other indebtedness of $25 million or more and the indentures governing our senior notes due 2012, 2016 and 2036 include an event of default upon the acceleration of other indebtedness of $100 million or more that would be triggered by such an offer to repurchase. Such an event of default would entitle the trustee or the holders of 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior notes due 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2036 to declare those notes immediately due and payable in full. We may not have sufficient cash on hand to repurchase and repay any accelerated senior notes, which may cause us to borrow money under our credit facilities or seek alternative financing sources to finance the repurchases and repayment. We could also face difficulties accessing capital or our borrowing costs could increase, impacting our ability to obtain financing for acquisitions or capital expenditures, to refinance indebtedness and to fulfill our debt obligations. A decline in our credit rating below investment grade may also require us to provide security to our counterparties in the form of cash, letters of credit or other negotiable instruments.

Other than the note repurchase obligations described above, we have determined that we do not have significant exposure to rating triggers in various other contracts and equipment leases. Rating triggers are defined as provisions that would create an automatic default or acceleration of indebtedness based on a change in our credit rating. Our credit agreements contain provisions that would cause the cost to borrow funds to increase if our credit rating is negatively adjusted. An adverse rating change is not defined as a default of our credit agreements.

 

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Capital Expenditures - We classify expenditures that are expected to generate additional revenue or significant operating efficiencies as growth capital expenditures. Any remaining capital expenditures are classified as maintenance capital expenditures. The following table summarizes our 2007 projected growth and maintenance capital expenditures excluding AFUDC.

 

2007 Projected Capital Expenditures    Growth    Maintenance    Total       
     (Millions of dollars)     

Gathering and Processing

   $ 88    $ 22    $ 110   

Natural Gas Liquids

     127      17      144   

Pipelines and Storage

     419      16      435   

Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines

     115      10      125     

Total projected capital expenditures

   $ 749    $ 65    $ 814   
 

Additional information about these projects is included under “Capital Projects” beginning on page 21. Financing for these projects may include borrowing under the 2007 Partnership Credit Agreement.

Cash Distributions - We distribute 100 percent of our available cash, which generally consists of all cash receipts less adjustments for cash disbursements and net change to reserves, to our general and limited partners. Our income is allocated to our general partner and limited partners according to their partnership percentages of 2 percent and 98 percent, respectively. The effect of any incremental income allocations for incentive distributions to our general partner is calculated after the income allocation for the general partner’s partnership interest and before the income allocation to the limited partners.

We paid $163.3 million and $77.9 million to our common and Class B unitholders, for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. We also paid our general partner $25.7 million and $6.8 million for its general partner and incentive distribution interests for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The following summarizes our quarterly cash distribution activity for 2007:

   

In January 2007, we increased our cash distribution to $0.98 per unit for the fourth quarter of 2006, which was paid on February 14, 2007, to unitholders of record on January 31, 2007.

   

In April 2007, we increased our cash distribution to $0.99 per unit for the first quarter of 2007. The distribution was paid on May 14, 2007, to unitholders of record as of April 30, 2007.

   

In July 2007, we increased our cash distribution to $1.00 per unit ($4.00 per unit on an annualized basis) for the second quarter of 2007. The distribution will be paid on August 14, 2007, to unitholders of record on July 31, 2007.

ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES

We are subject to multiple environmental laws and regulations affecting many aspects of our present and future operations, including air emissions, water quality, wastewater discharges, solid wastes and hazardous material and substance management. These laws and regulations generally require us to obtain and comply with a wide variety of environmental registrations, licenses, permits, inspections and other approvals. Failure to comply with these laws, regulations, permits and licenses may expose us to fines, penalties and/or interruptions in our operations that could be material to our results of operations. If an accidental leak or spill of hazardous materials occurs from our lines or facilities, in the process of transporting natural gas or NGLs, or at any facility that we own, operate or otherwise use, we could be held jointly and severally liable for all resulting liabilities, including investigation and clean-up costs, which could materially affect our results of operations and cash flows. In addition, emission controls required under the federal Clean Air Act and other similar federal and state laws could require unexpected capital expenditures at our facilities. We cannot assure that existing environmental regulations will not be revised or that new regulations will not be adopted or become applicable to us. Revised or additional regulations that result in increased compliance costs or additional operating restrictions, particularly if those costs are not fully recoverable from customers, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our expenditures for environmental evaluation and remediation to date have not been significant in relation to our results of operations, and there were no material effects upon earnings during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 or 2006 related to compliance with environmental regulations.

 

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CASH FLOW ANALYSIS

Operating Cash Flows - Operating cash flows increased by $20.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, compared with the same period in 2006. This increase was primarily due to a decrease in income taxes as a result of our consolidation of the ONEOK Energy Assets, as of January 1, 2006, which were previously owned by a taxable entity.

Investing Cash Flows - Cash used in investing activities was $232.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, compared with $1.2 billion for the same period last year.

The decreased use of cash for the six months ended June 30, 2007, was primarily related to the April 2006 purchase of the ONEOK Energy Assets, which included a cash payment of approximately $1.35 billion, and the acquisition of the 66-2/3 percent interest in Guardian Pipeline not previously owned by us for approximately $77 million. These decreases were offset by the sale of a 20 percent partnership interest in Northern Border Pipeline for approximately $297 million and by increased capital expenditures of $148.9 million for the six-month period in 2007 due to our capital projects. See page 21 for discussion of our capital projects.

Investing cash flows for 2006 also included the impact of the deconsolidation of Northern Border Pipeline and the consolidation of the ONEOK Energy Assets and Guardian Pipeline.

Financing Cash Flows - Cash used in financing activities was $93.1 million in 2007, compared with cash provided by financing activities of $856.8 million in 2006.

We had net borrowings of approximately $99.0 million in the first six months of 2007, compared with net borrowings of $1.2 billion in the same period in 2006. During the second quarter of 2006, we borrowed $1.05 billion under our Bridge Facility to finance a portion of the acquisition of the ONEOK Energy Assets and $77 million under our revolving credit agreement to acquire the 66-2/3 percent interest in Guardian Pipeline.

We reported cash flows retained by ONEOK of $177.0 million in 2006, which represented the cash flows generated during the first quarter of 2006 by the ONEOK Energy Assets prior to the ONEOK Transactions.

Cash distributions to our general and limited partners for 2007 were $189.0 million, compared with $84.8 million in the same period in 2006, an increase of $104.2 million, due to the additional units that were issued to complete the ONEOK Transactions. Additionally, we paid cash distributions of $1.97 per unit for the first six months of 2007, compared with $1.68 per unit paid in the same period in 2006.

In March 2006, we borrowed $33 million under our 2006 Partnership Credit Agreement to redeem all of the outstanding Viking Gas Transmission Series A, B, C and D senior notes and paid a redemption premium of $3.6 million.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements contained and incorporated in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements relate to our anticipated financial performance, management’s plans and objectives for our future operations, our business prospects, the outcome of regulatory and legal proceedings, market conditions and other matters. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements in certain circumstances. The following discussion is intended to identify important factors that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements include the items identified in the preceding paragraph, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations and other statements contained or incorporated in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q identified by words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “should,” “goal,” “forecast” and other words and terms of similar meaning.

 

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You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Those factors may affect our operations, markets, products, services and prices. In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with the forward-looking statements, factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement include, among others, the following:

   

the effects of weather and other natural phenomena on our operations, demand for our services and energy prices;

   

competition from other United States and Canadian energy suppliers and transporters as well as alternative forms of energy;

   

the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices for natural gas, NGLs, electricity and crude oil;

   

impact on drilling and production by factors beyond our control, including the demand for natural gas and refinery-grade crude oil; producers’ desire and ability to obtain necessary permits; reserve performance; and capacity constraints on the pipelines that transport crude oil, natural gas and NGLs from producing areas and our facilities;

   

risks of trading and hedging activities as a result of changes in energy prices or the financial condition of our counterparties;

   

the timely receipt of approval by applicable governmental entities for construction and operation of our pipeline projects and other projects and required regulatory clearances;

   

our ability to acquire all necessary rights-of-way permits and consents in a timely manner, to promptly obtain all necessary materials and supplies required for construction, and to construct pipelines without labor or contractor problems;

   

our ability to control construction costs and completion schedules of our pipeline projects and other projects;

   

the ability to market pipeline capacity on favorable terms;

   

risks associated with adequate supply to our gathering, processing, fractionation and pipeline facilities, including production declines that outpace new drilling;

   

the mechanical integrity of facilities operated;

   

the effects of changes in governmental policies and regulatory actions, including changes with respect to income and other taxes, environmental compliance, authorized rates or recovery of gas costs;

   

the results of administrative proceedings and litigation, regulatory actions and receipt of expected clearances involving regulatory authorities or any other local, state or federal regulatory body, including the FERC;

   

actions by rating agencies concerning our credit ratings;

   

the impact of unforeseen changes in interest rates, equity markets, inflation rates, economic recession and other external factors over which we have no control;

   

our ability to access capital at competitive rates or on terms acceptable to us;

   

demand for our services in the proximity of our facilities;

   

the profitability of assets or businesses acquired by us;

   

the risk that material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting could emerge or that minor problems could become significant;

   

the impact and outcome of pending and future litigation;

   

performance of contractual obligations by our customers;

   

the uncertainty of estimates, including accruals;

   

our ability to control operating costs; and

   

acts of nature, sabotage, terrorism or other similar acts that cause damage to our facilities or our suppliers’ or shippers’ facilities.

These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other factors could also have material adverse effects on our future results. These and other risks are described in greater detail under Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or change in circumstances, expectations or otherwise.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are consistent with those discussed in Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

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INTEREST RATE RISK

General - We are subject to the risk of interest rate fluctuation in the normal course of business. We manage interest rate risk through the use of fixed-rate debt, floating-rate debt and, at times, interest-rate swaps. Fixed-rate swaps are used to reduce our risk of increased interest costs during periods of rising interest rates. Floating-rate swaps are used to convert the fixed rates of long-term borrowings into short-term variable rates. At June 30, 2007, the interest rate on 92.6 percent of our long-term debt was fixed after considering the impact of interest-rate swaps.

At June 30, 2007, a 100 basis point move in the annual interest rate on our variable-rate long-term debt would have changed our annual interest expense by $1.5 million. This 100 basis point change assumes a parallel shift in the yield curve. If interest rates changed significantly, we would take actions to manage our exposure to the change. Since a specific action and the possible effects are uncertain, no change has been assumed.

Fair Value Hedges - See Note C of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for discussion of the impact of interest-rate swaps and net interest expense savings from terminated swaps.

Total swap savings from the interest-rate swaps and amortization of terminated swaps was $1.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007. The swaps are expected to net the following savings for the remainder of the year:

   

interest expense savings of $1.8 million related to the amortization of the swap value at termination, less

   

approximately $0.7 million in interest expense from the existing $150 million of swapped debt, based on LIBOR rates at June 30, 2007.

Total net swap savings for 2007 are expected to be $2.3 million, compared with the savings of $2.0 million in 2006.

COMMODITY PRICE RISK

Our Gathering and Processing segment is exposed to commodity price risk, primarily NGLs, as a result of receiving commodities in exchange for our services. To a lesser extent, exposures arise from the relative price differential between natural gas and NGLs with respect to our keep-whole processing contracts and the risk of price fluctuations and the cost of intervening transportation at various market locations. We use commodity fixed-price physical forwards and derivative contracts, including NYMEX-based futures and over-the-counter swaps to minimize earnings volatility related to natural gas, NGL and condensate price fluctuations.

We have reduced our gross processing spread exposure through a combination of physical and financial hedges. We utilize a portion of our POP equity natural gas as an offset, or natural hedge, to an equivalent portion of our keep-whole shrink requirements. This has the effect of converting our gross processing spread risk to NGL commodity price risk, and we use financial instruments to hedge the sale of NGLs. Through this approach, we have reduced our gross processing spread exposure by 5,220 MMBtu/d (or 1,560 Bbl/d) for the remainder of 2007. The NGLs have been hedged at an average price of $0.80 per gallon in 2007. The NGLs have been hedged at an average price of $0.85 per gallon in 2008.

The following tables set forth our Gathering and Processing segment’s hedging information for the remainder of 2007 and for the year ending December 31, 2008.

 

    

Six Months Ending

December 31, 2007

Nature of Exposure    Volumes
Hedged
           Average Price
Per Unit
    Volumes
Hedged
       

Commodity Risk

              

Natural gas liquids (Bbl/d) (a)

   2,682      $    0.84    ( $/gallon )   41 %  

Spread Risk

              

Gross processing spread (MMBtu/d) (a)

   6,370      $    3.04    ( $/MMBtu )   25 %  

Natural gas liquids (Bbl/d) (a)

   1,560    (b )   $    0.80    ( $/gallon )   21 %    

(a) Hedged with fixed-priced swaps

(b) 5,220 MMBtu/d equivalent

              

 

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Year Ending

December 31, 2008

       Volumes
Hedged
          Average Price
Per Unit
   Volumes
Hedged
       

Natural gas liquids (Bbl/d) (a)

   1,062         $    0.85    ( $/gallon )    8 %    

(a) Hedged with fixed-price swaps

                

Our commodity price risk is estimated as a hypothetical change in the price of natural gas, NGLs and crude oil at June 30, 2007, excluding the effects of hedging. Our condensate sales are based on the price of crude oil.

 

   

We estimate that a $0.01 per gallon increase in the composite price of NGLs would increase annual net margin by approximately $1.8 million.

   

We estimate that a $1.00 per barrel increase in the price of crude oil would increase annual net margin by approximately $0.5 million.

   

We estimate that a $0.10 per MMBtu increase in the price of natural gas would increase annual net margin by approximately $0.2 million.

The above estimates of commodity price risk do not include any effects on demand for our services that might be caused by, or arise in conjunction with, price changes. For example, a change in the gross processing spread may cause ethane to be sold in the natural gas stream, impacting gathering and processing margins, NGL exchange margins, natural gas deliveries and NGL volumes shipped.

Our Natural Gas Liquids segment is exposed to commodity price risk primarily as a result of NGLs in storage, spread risk associated with the relative values of the various components of the NGL stream and the relative value of NGL purchases at one location and sales at another location, known as basis risk. We have not entered into any hedges with respect to our NGL marketing activities.

Our Pipelines and Storage and Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines segments are exposed to commodity price risk because our intrastate and interstate natural gas pipelines collect natural gas from their customers for operations or as part of their fee for services provided. When the amount of natural gas consumed in operations by these pipelines differs from the amount provided by their customers, the pipelines must buy or sell natural gas, store or use natural gas from inventory, and are exposed to commodity price risk. At June 30, 2007, there were no hedges in place with respect to natural gas price risk from our intrastate and interstate natural gas pipeline operations.

See Note C of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for more information on our hedging activities.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Quarterly Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures - As of the end of the period covered by this report, our Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) of ONEOK Partners GP, our general partner, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management of ONEOK Partners GP, including the officers of ONEOK Partners GP who are the equivalent of our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on their evaluation, they concluded that as of June 30, 2007, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting - We have not made any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the second quarter ended June 30, 2007, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Table of Contents

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Additional information about our legal proceedings is included under Part I, Item 3, “Legal Proceedings,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Praxair, Inc. v. ONEOK Field Services Company, et al ., District Court of Ellsworth County, Kansas, Case No. 04-C-17 . The parties settled this case, and an Order of Dismissal with Prejudice was entered by the Court on July 2, 2007. With the settlement and dismissal, this case has been formally concluded with no material impact to us.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Our investors should consider the risks set forth in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, that could affect us and our business. Although we have tried to discuss key factors, our investors need to be aware that other risks may prove to be important in the future. New risks may emerge at any time and we cannot predict such risks or estimate the extent to which they may affect our financial performance. Investors should carefully consider the discussion of risks and the other information included or incorporated by reference in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including Forward-Looking Statements, which are included in Part I, Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

We have adopted certain valuation methodologies that may result in a shift of income, gain, loss and deduction between the general partner and the unitholders. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of our limited partner units.

When we issue additional units or engage in certain other transactions, we determine the fair market value of our assets and allocate any unrealized gain or loss attributable to our assets to the capital accounts of our unitholders and our general partner. Our methodology may be viewed as understating the value of our assets. In that case, there may be a shift of income, gain, loss and deduction between certain unitholders and the general partner, which may be unfavorable to such unitholders. Moreover, under our current valuation methods, subsequent purchasers of common units may have a greater portion of their Internal Revenue Code Section 743(b) adjustment allocated to our tangible assets and a lesser portion allocated to our intangible assets. The IRS may challenge our valuation methods, or our allocation of the Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to our tangible and intangible assets, and allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction between the general partner and certain of our unitholders.

A successful IRS challenge to these methods or allocations could adversely affect the amount of taxable income or loss being allocated to our unitholders. It also could affect the amount of gain from our unitholders’ sale of common units and could have a negative impact on the value of the common units or result in audit adjustments to our unitholders’ tax returns without the benefit of additional deductions.

Our treatment of a purchaser of common units as having the same tax benefits as the seller could be challenged, resulting in a reduction in value of the common units.

Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of common units, we are required to maintain the uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of these units in the hands of the purchasers and sellers of these units. We do so by adopting certain depreciation conventions that do not conform to all aspects of the United States Treasury regulations. An IRS challenge to these conventions could adversely affect the tax benefits to a unitholder of ownership of the common units and could have a negative impact on their value or result in audit adjustments to our unitholders’ tax returns.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Not Applicable.

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not Applicable.

 

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Table of Contents
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

At a special annual meeting of our unitholders held March 29, 2007, our unitholders approved a proposal to approve a change in the terms of our Class B limited partner units to permit, at the option of the holder, the conversion of all outstanding Class B limited partner units into the same number of our common units and the issuance of additional common units in such amount upon such conversion. In addition, at this meeting our unitholders approved a proposal to adjourn the special meeting to May 10, 2007. The purpose of the adjournment was to allow for the solicitation of additional proxies in favor of a proposal to amend our Partnership Agreement to (a) permit our general partner and its affiliates to vote the limited partnership interests held by them in connection with any future proposal to remove the general partner, and (b) to provide for the payment of fair market value to the general partner for the general partner interest in all cases where the general partner is removed (the “Amendment Proposal”). The results of the voting at the March 29, 2007 special meeting were reported in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007.

At the reconvened special meeting of our unitholders held May 10, 2007, the Amendment Proposal did not receive the required affirmative vote of two-thirds of our outstanding units, excluding the common units and Class B limited partner units held by ONEOK and its affiliates. As a result, the Amendment Proposal was not approved. The vote was as follows:

 

     Votes For    Votes Against    Abstained

Amendment Proposal

   26,968,329    3,346,484    724,492

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

Not Applicable.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

The following exhibits are filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:

 

Exhibit No.    Exhibit Description

3.1  

  

Amendment No. 1 to Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of ONEOK Partners, L.P. dated July 20, 2007.

10.1    Supplement and Joinder Agreement dated July 31, 2007, among ONEOK Partners, L.P., as Borrower, each of the existing Lenders, SunTrust Bank, as Administrative Agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
31.1    Certification of John W. Gibson pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Certification of Curtis L. Dinan pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1    Certification of John W. Gibson pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished only pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b)).
32.2    Certification of Curtis L. Dinan pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished only pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b)).

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURE

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.

 

  ONEOK PARTNERS, L.P.
  By:   ONEOK Partners GP, L.L.C., its General Partner
Date: August 3, 2007     By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Dinan

      Curtis L. Dinan
      Senior Vice President,
      Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
     

(Signing on behalf of the Registrant

and as Principal Financial Officer)

 

38

EXHIBIT 3.1

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF

ONEOK PARTNERS, L.P.

This Amendment No. 1, dated July 20, 2007 (this “ Amendment ”), to the Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “ Partnership Agreement ”), of ONEOK Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, dated as of September 15, 2006, is entered into and effectuated by ONEOK Partners GP, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company and f/k/a Northern Plains Natural Gas Company, LLC in its capacity as the General Partner, pursuant to authority granted to it in Article XV of the Partnership Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein are used as defined in the Partnership Agreement.

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, Section 15.1(d)(i) of the Partnership Agreement provides that the General Partner, without the approval of any Partner, may amend any provision of the Partnership Agreement to reflect a change that the General Partner determines does not adversely affect the Limited Partners (including any particular class of Partnership Interests as compared to other classes of Partnership Interests) in any material respect;

WHEREAS, on December 1, 2006, the Partnership entered into the stipulation of settlement (the “ Settlement ”) in connection with the now-dismissed lawsuit, F. Richard Manson v. Northern Plains Natural Gas Company, LLC, et al., C.A. No. 1973-N (Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware, County of New Castle) in which, among other matters, it agreed to make changes to the terms of the Partnership Agreement to (a) amend the definition of “Audit Committee” to provide that at least one member of the Audit Committee will be an audit committee financial expert, and (b) amend the terms of the Class B Units to provide that (i) if the Conversion Approval or Amendment Approval was not obtained, the holder of the Class B Units would be entitled to increased distributions equal to 110% of the distributions due to Common Unitholders instead of 115% as set forth in the original terms of the Class B Units, and (ii) in certain circumstances, the holder of the Class B Units would be entitled to increased distributions equal to 123.5% of the distributions due to Common Unitholders instead of 125% as set forth in the original terms of the Class B Units;

WHEREAS, at a special meeting of Common Unitholders of the Partnership held on March 29, 2007, the Conversion Approval was obtained, and the meeting was adjourned to May 10, 2007 without obtaining the Amendment Approval;

WHEREAS, at the adjourned special meeting of Common Unitholders of the Partnership held on May 10, 2007, the Amendment Approval was not obtained;

WHEREAS, the Audit Committee has determined, pursuant to Section 6.9 of the Partnership Agreement, that amending the Partnership Agreement to reflect the terms of the Settlement and the outcome of the special meeting and the adjourned special meeting referenced

 

1


above is fair and reasonable to the Partnership, and has recommended to the General Partner that such updating amendments to the Partnership Agreement be approved; and

WHEREAS, the General Partner, has determined that it is in the best interest of the Partnership and the Limited Partners, and does not adversely affect the Limited Partners in any material respect, to amend the Partnership Agreement to reflect the outcome of the special meeting and the adjourned special meeting, to reflect the terms of the Settlement and to make such other changes pursuant to Section 15.1(d)(i) as the General Partner deems to be appropriate.

NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as follows:

A. Amendment. The Partnership Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

 

  1) Section 2.1 is hereby amended as follows:

 

  a) the definition of “Audit Committee” shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

Audit Committee ” means a committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner consisting of three or more members of the Board of Directors appointed by the Board of Directors who meet the independence and other standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors established by (a) the Securities Exchange Act and rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (b) the National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading and (c) the Board of Directors; provided that at least one member of the Audit Committee will be an audit committee financial expert (as defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K, the Standard Instructions for Filing Forms under the Securities Act of 1933, Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, and Energy and Policy Conversion Act of 1975) and provided further that the aforesaid definition cannot be amended other than with the prior approval of a majority of the Outstanding Common Units (excluding Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates).

 

  2) Section 2.1 is hereby amended to delete the following definitions:

Class B Subordination Period ”;

Class B Unit Arrearage ”;

Common Unit Arrearage ”;

Conversion Approval Termination Date ”;

Cumulative Class B Unit Arrearage ”;

Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage ”; and

 

2


Section 4.9(b) Distribution Increase Date ”.

 

  3) Section 2.1 is hereby amended to substitute the following definitions in place of the existing definitions:

Class B Distribution Increase Date ” means April 7, 2007; and

Conversion Approval Date ” means March 29, 2007.

 

  4) Section 2.1 is hereby amended to add the following definition:

Conversion Approval ” means the approval of a change in the terms of the Class B Units to provide that each Class B Unit shall be convertible from time to time, at the option of the holders thereof, into one Common Unit (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any split-up, combination or similar event affecting the Common Units that occurs prior to the conversion of the Class B Units).

 

  5) Section 4.8 shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

Section 4.8 Establishment of Class B Units.

 

  a) General. Prior to the Effective Date, the Partnership Policy Committee designated and created a class of Units designated as “Class B Units” and consisting of a total of 36,494,126 Class B Units, and fixed the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, power and duties of holders of the Class B Units as set forth in this Section 4.8.

 

  b) Rights Associated with Class B Units. Prior to the conversion of all of the Class B Units pursuant to Section 4.8(f) below:

 

  i) subject to the provisions of Section 5.1(d)(iii)(A) and paragraphs (ii) and (iii) below, all items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit shall be allocated to the Class B Units to the same extent such items would be allocated if such Class B Units were Common Units then Outstanding, and the allocations to Class B Units shall have the same order of priority relative to allocations on the Common Units;

 

  ii)

the Class B Units shall have the right to share in Partnership quarterly cash distributions based on 110% of the amount of any Partnership distribution that would be made to each Common Unit so that the amount of any Partnership distribution to each Class B Unit will equal 110% of the amount of such distribution to each Common Unit (such additional 10% pro rated for the quarter in which the Class B

 

3


 

Distribution Increase Date occurs), and the right of holders of Class B Units to receive distributions shall have the same order of priority relative to distributions on the Common Units; and

 

  iii) the Class B Units shall have rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, including the right to share in any liquidating distributions, that are based on 110% of the liquidating distributions that would be made to the Common Units so that the amount of any liquidating distribution to each Class B Unit will equal 110% of the amount of such distribution to each Common Unit, and accordingly, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, prior to any distribution under Section 14.4, the Capital Account of each Partner shall be adjusted to give effect to the foregoing liquidation rights.

 

  c) Voting Rights. The Class B Units will have such voting rights pursuant to the Partnership Agreement as such Class B Units would have if they were Common Units that were then Outstanding except that (i) for the purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” such Class B Units shall be deemed to be “Units” but not “Common Units” for all purposes thereof, and (ii) with respect to the Amendment Approval, none of the Class B Units shall be deemed Outstanding as of the record date for such vote or be entitled to vote. Each Class B Unit will be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of Common Units into which a Class B Unit is convertible.”

 

  d) Certificates. The Class B Units are evidenced by certificates in the form previously approved by the Partnership Policy Committee and, subject to the satisfaction of any applicable legal and regulatory requirements, may be assigned or transferred in a manner identical to the assignment and transfer of other Units. The Class B Unit Certificates include the restrictive legend set forth below:

THE UNITS REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAW (“ACTS”). THE UNITS HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OFFERED FOR SALE IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE UNITS UNDER THE ACTS OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL SATISFACTORY TO THE

 

4


PARTNERSHIP THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

 

  e) Registrar and Transfer Agent. OPGP will act as registrar and transfer agent of the Class B Units.

 

  f) Conversion. The Class B Units shall be convertible as follows:

 

  i) Optional Conversion . Each Class B Unit may be converted, at any time or from time to time following the Conversion Approval Date at the option of the holder thereof, into one Common Unit (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any split-up, combination or similar event affecting the Common Units that occurs prior to the conversion of a Class B Unit).

 

 

ii)

Automatic Conversion . The General Partner shall cause the Partnership, as promptly as practicable following the initial issuance of any Class B Units, to take such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to submit to a vote or consent of holders of at least 66  2 / 3 % of the Outstanding Units (excluding those Units held by ONEOK and its Affiliates) and otherwise as required by Section 15.2 of this Agreement, the amendments to the Agreement described on Annex A to this Agreement (the approval of such amendment, the “ Amendment Approval ,” and the date of obtaining the Amendment Approval, the “ Amendment Approval Date ”). Subject to Section 4.10, each Class B Unit shall automatically convert into one Common Unit (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any split-up, combination or similar event affecting the Common Units that occurs prior to the conversion of the Class B Units) upon receipt of Amendment Approval as set forth above in this paragraph (ii) and immediately thereafter, none of the Class B Units shall be outstanding.

 

  iii) Quarterly Cash Distributions . Each Common Unit into which a Class B Unit has been converted as provided in this Section 4.8(f) shall have the right to share in any Partnership quarterly cash distributions made in respect of a Common Unit in accordance with Section 5.4 hereof.

 

  6) Section 4.9 shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

Section 4.9 Additional Provision Relating to Conversion of Class B Units

If at any time following the Conversion Approval Date either (1) the Partnership’s Unitholders obtain the Amendment Approval, or (2) any of

 

5


the Class B Units are converted into Common Units pursuant to Section 4.8(f)(i), then, unless the provisions of Section 4.10 shall already be in effect, (i) with respect to the matters described in sub-clause (1) above, as of the Amendment Approval Date, all Class B Units shall automatically, and without further action of the holder(s) thereof, be converted into Common Units in accordance with Section 4.8(f)(ii), and (ii) with respect to matters described in sub-clauses (1) and (2) above for the quarter in which such conversion occurs, concurrently with the distribution made in accordance with Article V of this Agreement of Available Cash, with respect to the quarter in which the conversion of the Class B Units is effected, a distribution shall be paid to each holder of record of the applicable Class B Units as of the effective date of such conversion, with the amount of such distribution for each such Class B Unit to be equal to the product of (a) 10% of the amount to be distributed in respect of such quarter to each Common Unit times (it being agreed that each such Common Unit issued upon conversion shall be entitled to the full distribution payable to the holder of a Common Unit) and (b) a fraction, of which (A) the numerator is the number of days in such quarter up to but excluding the date of such conversion, and (B) the denominator is the total number of days in such quarter (the foregoing amount being referred to as an “ Excess Payment ”). For the taxable year in which an Excess Payment is made, each holder of a Class B Unit shall be allocated items of gross income with respect to such taxable year in an amount equal to the Excess Payment distributed to it as provided in Section 5.1(d)(iii)(A).

 

  7) Section 4.10 shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

Section 4.10 Amendment of Terms of Class B Units Upon Removal of the General Partner

a) If at any time following the Conversion Approval Date, a resolution of the Limited Partners holding the requisite majority of Outstanding Units is passed approving the removal of any Affiliate of ONEOK as the general partner of the Partnership (a “ GP Removal Event ”), then automatically and without further action and, effective as of the next succeeding day (the “ GP Removal Date ”), Section 4.8(f)(ii) shall be deemed to be deleted in its entirety, automatically and without further action, and Section 4.8(b) hereof will be deemed to be amended in its entirety, automatically and without further action, as follows:

“b) Rights Associated with Class B Units. Prior to the conversion of the Class B Units as set forth in Section 4.8(f) hereof:

 

  i)

subject to the provisions of Section 5.1(d)(iii)(A) and paragraphs (ii) and (iii) below, all items of Partnership income, gain, loss, deduction and credit shall be allocated to the Class B Units to the same extent as such items would be

 

6


 

allocated if such Class B Units were Common Units then Outstanding, and the allocations to Class B Units shall have the same order of priority relative to allocations on the Common Units; and

 

  ii) the Class B Units shall have the right to share in Partnership quarterly cash distributions based on 123.5% of the amount of any Partnership distribution that would be made to each Common Unit so that the amount of any Partnership distribution to each Class B Unit will equal 123.5% of the amount of such distribution to each Common Unit (such additional 23.5% pro rated for the quarter in which the GP Removal Date occurs), and the right of holders of Class B Units to receive distributions shall have the same order of priority relative to distributions on the Common Units; and

 

  iii) the Class B Units shall have rights upon dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership, including the right to share in any liquidating distributions, that are based on 123.5% of the liquidating distributions that would be made to the Common Units so that the amount of any liquidating distribution to each Class B Unit will equal 123.5% of the amount of such distribution to each Common Unit, and accordingly, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, prior to any distribution under Section 14.4, the Capital Account of each Partner shall be adjusted to give effect to the foregoing liquidation rights.”

b) If a GP Removal Event has occurred and any of the Class B Units are converted into Common Units pursuant to Section 4.8(f)(i), then, for the quarter in which such conversion occurs, concurrently with the distribution made in accordance with Article V of the Partnership Agreement of Available Cash, with respect to the quarter in which the conversion of the Class B Units is effected, a distribution shall be paid to each holder of record of the applicable Class B Units as of the effective date of such conversion, with the amount of such distribution for each such Class B Unit to be equal to the product of (a) 23.5% of the amount to be distributed in respect of such quarter to each Common Unit times (it being agreed that each such Common Unit issued upon conversion shall be entitled to the full dividend payable to the holder of a Common Unit) (b) a fraction, of which (i) the numerator is the number of days in such quarter up to but excluding the date of such conversion, and (ii) the denominator is the total number of days in such quarter (the foregoing amount being referred to as an “ Excess Payment ”). For the taxable year in which an Excess Payment is made, each holder of a Class B Unit shall be allocated items of gross income with respect to such taxable year in an amount equal to the Excess Payment distributed to it as provided in Section 5.1(d)(iii)(A).

 

7


  8) Section 4.11 shall be deleted in its entirety.

 

  9) Section 5.4(b) shall be deleted in its entirety and the remainder of Section 5.4 shall be renumbered accordingly.

B. Agreement in Effect . Except as hereby amended, the Partnership Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

C. Applicable Law. This Amendment shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

D. Invalidity of Provisions. If any provision of this Amendment is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be effected thereby.

E. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute an agreement binding on all parties thereto, notwithstanding that all such parties are not signatories to the original or the same counterpart.

 

8


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been executed as of the date first written above.

 

GENERAL PARTNER:
ONEOK PARTNERS GP, L.L.C.
By:   /s/ John W. Gibson
  Name: John W. Gibson
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

9


ANNEX A

 

1. The following definition shall be deleted in its entirety from Article II:

“Hypothetical Equity Value”.

 

2. Section 13.2 shall be amended to read in its entirety as follows:

“Section 13.2 Removal of the General Partner .

The General Partner may be removed if such removal is approved by the Unitholders holding at least 66  2 / 3 % of the Outstanding Units (including for purposes of such determination Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) voting as a single class. Any such action by such holders for removal of the General Partner must also provide for the election of a successor General Partner by the Unitholders holding a majority of the outstanding Common Units voting as a class (including for purposes of such determination Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates). Such removal shall be effective immediately following the admission of a successor General Partner. The removal of the General Partner shall also automatically constitute the removal of the General Partner as general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the Intermediate Partnership and any other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or managing member. If a Person is elected as a successor General Partner in accordance with the terms of this Section 13.2, such Person shall, upon admission pursuant to Article XII, automatically become a successor general partner or managing member, to the extent applicable, of the Intermediate Partnership and any other Group Members of which the General Partner is a general partner or a managing member. The right of the holders of Outstanding Units to remove the General Partner shall not exist or be exercised unless the Partnership has received an opinion opining as to the matters covered by a Withdrawal Opinion of Counsel. Any successor General Partner elected in accordance with the terms of this Section 13.2 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 12.3.”

 

3. The second paragraph of Section 13.3(a) shall be amended to read in its entirety as follows:

“For purposes of this Section 13.3(a), the fair market value of the Departing General Partner’s Combined Interest shall be determined by agreement between the Departing General Partner and its successor or, failing agreement within 30 days after the effective date of such Departing General Partner’s departure, by an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the Departing General Partner and its successor, which, in turn, may rely on other experts, and the determination of which shall be conclusive as to such matter. If such parties cannot agree upon one independent investment banking firm or other independent expert within 45 days after the effective date of such departure, then the Departing General Partner shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, the Departing General Partner’s successor shall designate an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, and such two designated investment banking firms or other


independent experts shall designate a third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert, which third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert shall determine the fair market value of the Combined Interest of the Departing General Partner. In making its determination, such third independent investment banking firm or other independent expert may consider the then current trading price of Units on any National Securities Exchange on which Units are then listed or admitted to trading, the value of the Partnership’s assets, the rights and obligations of the Departing General Partner and other factors it may deem relevant.”

 

4. Section 13.3(b) shall be amended to read in its entirety as follows:

(b) If the Combined Interest of a Departing General Partner is not acquired by a successor in the manner set forth in Section 13.3(a), the Departing General Partner shall become a Limited Partner and the Combined Interest shall be converted into Common Units based on the fair market value of such Combined Interest as calculated pursuant to Section 13.3(a) and the Current Market Price of the Common Units as of the effective date of the departure of such Departing General Partner. Any successor General Partner shall indemnify the Departing General Partner as to all debts and liabilities of the Partnership arising on or after the date on which the Departing General Partner becomes a Limited Partner. For purposes of this Agreement, conversion of a General Partner’s Partnership Interest as a general partner in the Partnership to Common Units will be characterized as if such General Partner contributed its Partnership Interest to the Partnership in exchange for the newly-issued Common Units.

 

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Exhibit 10.1

SUPPLEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT

THIS SUPPLEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of July 31, 2007, is being executed and delivered pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.21 of that certain Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of March 30, 2007, among ONEOK PARTNERS, L.P., as Borrower, the Lenders from time to time parties thereto, and SUNTRUST BANK, as Administrative Agent (the “ Credit Agreement ”), by each of the existing Lenders listed on the signature pages hereto (each an “ Increasing Lender ” and collectively the “ Increasing Lenders ”), JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “ Additional Lender ”), and the Borrower, and accepted by the Administrative Agent. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

BACKGROUND

A. Pursuant to Section 2.21 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower has notified the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders that the Borrower proposes to increase the Aggregate Revolving Commitments under the Credit Agreement to the total amount of $1,000,000,000.

B. Each of the Increasing Lenders has agreed to increase its Revolving Commitment to the amount specified for such Increasing Lender on Schedule I attached to this Agreement, and the Additional Lender has agreed to extend to the Borrower a new Revolving Commitment in the amount specified for the Additional Lender on such Schedule I and to become an additional Lender for all purposes of the Credit Agreement.

C. The parties to this Agreement are entering into this Agreement for purposes of effecting the increase in the Revolving Commitments of the Increasing Lenders and the extension of the new Revolving Commitment of the Additional Lender, all as contemplated by Section 2.21 of the Credit Agreement.

Accordingly, each of the parties to this Agreement hereby agrees as follows:

1. Each of the Increasing Lenders hereby agrees to increase the amount of its Revolving Commitment to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement to the respective amount for such Increasing Lender shown as being its increased Revolving Commitment amount on Schedule I attached to this Agreement. Such increase shall take effect for all purposes of the Credit Agreement on the Effective Date (as hereinafter defined) of this Agreement.

2. The Additional Lender hereby extends to the Borrower, subject to and on the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement, a Revolving Commitment in the amount shown for such Additional Lender on Schedule I attached to this Agreement, from and after the Effective Date of this Agreement, and agrees to perform in accordance with the terms thereof all of the


obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender thereunder. The Additional Lender represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) from and after the Effective Date of this Agreement, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and shall have and perform all of the obligations of a Lender thereunder, and (iii) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Credit Agreement, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and to extend the Revolving Commitment to the Borrower pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender. The Additional Lender agrees that it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions and analysis in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Documents. The Additional Lender has submitted, or shall promptly hereafter submit, to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire duly completed by the Additional Lender to be used and relied upon by the Administrative Agent for all purposes of the Credit Agreement.

3. Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that the respective Revolving Commitments of the Additional Lender, the Increasing Lenders, and the other Lenders under the Credit Agreement are several and not joint commitments and obligations of such Lenders. After giving effect to the additional and increased Revolving Commitments as provided in this Agreement, each party further acknowledges and agrees that (i) the Revolving Commitments in effect for all Lenders under the Credit Agreement shall be those shown on Schedule II attached to this Agreement, (ii)  Schedule II attached to the Credit Agreement shall be amended and restated as set forth on Schedule II attached to this Agreement, and (iii) any and all Base Rate Loans and Eurodollar Loans, and any and all Letters of Credit, that are outstanding under the Credit Agreement on the Effective Date shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.21(e) of the Credit Agreement.

4. Each party hereto agrees that this Agreement and the effectiveness of the additional and increased Revolving Commitments as provided in this Agreement shall be subject to satisfaction by the Borrower of the following conditions and requirements:

(a) The Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent the following in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:

(i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed by the Increasing Lenders, the Additional Lender, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, together with the Acknowledgment and Agreement attached to this Agreement signed by ONEOK Partners Intermediate Limited Partnership as Guarantor;

 

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(ii) a duly executed Revolving Credit Note payable to each Increasing Lender and the Additional Lender to the extent requested by any such Lender;

(iii) a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the General Partner of the Borrower, attaching and certifying copies of the authorizing resolutions for the additional and increased Revolving Commitments and any borrowings thereunder as provided in this Agreement;

(iv) a favorable written opinion of GableGotwals, counsel to the Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders, and covering such matters relating to the Borrower and this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request; and

(v) a certification on behalf of the Borrower as of the Effective Date of this Agreement that (x) no Default or Event of Default then exists, (y) all representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Credit Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on such date (or, if any such representation or warranty is expressly stated to have been made as of a specific date, as of such specific date), and (z) since the date of the financial statements of the Borrower described in Section 4.4 of the Credit Agreement, there has been no change which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent all costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with this Supplement and Joinder Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein, including without limitation, all reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Administrative Agent.

The date on which the foregoing conditions have been satisfied shall be the “ Effective Date ” of this Agreement.

5. The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Borrower, and that the Credit Agreement, as supplemented and amended hereby, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity.

6. Except as supplemented and amended hereby, the Credit Agreement and all other documents executed in connection therewith shall remain in full force and effect. The Credit Agreement, as supplemented and amended hereby, and all rights, powers and obligations created

 

3


thereby or thereunder and under the Loan Documents and all such other documents executed in connection therewith are in all respects ratified and confirmed.

7. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute one contract. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, regarding such subject matter.

8. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Increasing Lenders, the Additional Lender, and the Borrower have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective authorized officers and representatives, and the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Additional Lender, the Increasing Lenders, and all other Lenders under the Credit Agreement, has caused the same to be accepted by its authorized officer, as of the day and year first above written.

 

SUNTRUST BANK,

as an Increasing Lender

By:  

/s/ Carmen Malizia

Name:   Carmen Malizia
Title:   Vice President

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SUPPLEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT]


WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as an Increasing Lender

By:  

/s/ Shannon Townsend

Name:   Shannon Townsend
Title:   Director

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SUPPLEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT]


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as an Increasing Lender

By:  

/s/ Christopher Smith

Name:   Christopher Smith
Title:   Senior Vice President

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SUPPLEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT]


CITIBANK, N.A.,

as an Increasing Lender

By:  

/s/ Todd Mogil

Name:   Todd Mogil
Title:   Attorney-in-Fact

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SUPPLEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT]


UBS LOAN FINANCE, LLC,

as an Increasing Lender

By:  

/s/ Irja R. Otsa

Name:   Irja R. Otsa
Title:  

Associate Director

Banking Products Services, US

By:  

/s/ David B. Julie

Name:   David B. Julie
Title:  

Associate Director

Banking Products Services, US

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SUPPLEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT]


THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC,

as an Increasing Lender

By:  

/s/ John Preece

Name:   John Preece
Title:   Vice President

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SUPPLEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT]


JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Additional Lender

By:  

/s/ Tara Narasiman

Name:   Tara Narasiman
Title:   Associate

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SUPPLEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT]


ONEOK PARTNERS, L.P.
By:   ONEOK Partners, GP, L.L.C.,
  its sole General Partner
By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Dinan

Name:   Curtis L. Dinan
Title:  

Senior Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

ACCEPTED THIS 31st

DAY OF JULY, 2007:

SUNTRUST BANK,

as Administrative Agent

By:

 

/s/ Carmen Malizia

Name:

  Carmen Malizia

Title:

  Vice President

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO SUPPLEMENT AND JOINDER AGREEMENT]


ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND AGREEMENT

The undersigned, ONEOK PARTNERS INTERMEDIATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP , acknowledges the execution, delivery and effectiveness of the foregoing Supplement and Joinder Agreement dated as of July 31, 2007 (the “ Agreement ”) entered into pursuant to the terms of that certain Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of March 30, 2007, among ONEOK Partners, L.P. (the “ Borrower ”), the Lenders from time to time parties thereto, and SunTrust Bank, as Administrative Agent (the “ Credit Agreement ”), and hereby acknowledges, confirms and agrees as follows: (i) the Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement dated as of March 30, 2007 previously executed and delivered by the undersigned in respect of the obligations of the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement remains in full force and effect on and after the date hereof, after giving effect to the additional and increased Revolving Commitments as provided in the Agreement, (ii) the “Guaranteed Obligations” as provided in such Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement shall include, without limitation, all borrowings and other extensions of credit made pursuant to the Revolving Commitments as so supplemented and increased, and (iii) nothing contained in the Agreement shall in any way be deemed to limit, discharge, release or otherwise affect the obligations and liabilities of the undersigned pursuant to such Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement, all of which obligations and liabilities remain in full force and effect as provided therein and herein.

This Acknowledgment and Agreement made and entered into effective as of July 31, 2007.

 

ONEOK PARTNERS INTERMEDIATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By:  

ONEOK ILP GP, L.L.C.,

its sole General Partner

By:  

/s/ Curtis L. Dinan

Name:   Curtis L. Dinan
Title:  

Senior Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer


Schedule I

ADDITIONAL AND INCREASED REVOLVING COMMITMENTS

 

Additional Lender

   Additional
Revolving
Commitment

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

   $ 97,500,000

 

Increasing Lenders

   Increased
Revolving
Commitments

SunTrust Bank

   $ 98,750,000

Wachovia Bank, National Association

   $ 98,750,000

Citibank, N.A.

   $ 97,500,000

UBS Loan Finance, LLC

   $ 97,500,000

Bank of America, N.A.

   $ 97,500,000

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

   $ 97,500,000


Schedule II

COMMITMENT AMOUNTS *

 

Lender

  

Revolving

Commitment
Amount

   Pro Rata
Share
 

SunTrust Bank

   $ 98,750,000    9.875000 %

Wachovia Bank, National Association

   $ 98,750,000    9.875000 %

Citibank, N.A.

   $ 97,500,000    9.750000 %

UBS Loan Finance LLC

   $ 97,500,000    9.750000 %

Bank of America, N.A.

   $ 97,500,000    9.750000 %

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

   $ 97,500,000    9.750000 %

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

   $ 97,500,000    9.750000 %

BMO Capital Markets Financing, Inc.

   $ 65,000,000    6.500000 %

Barclays Bank plc

   $ 65,000,000    6.500000 %

Royal Bank of Canada

   $ 46,250,000    4.625000 %

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

   $ 46,250,000    4.625000 %

Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd.

   $ 46,250,000    4.625000 %

BNP Paribas

   $ 46,250,000    4.625000 %

TOTAL

   $ 1,000,000,000    100.000000 %

* Effective as of July 31, 2007

Exhibit 31.1

Certification

I, John W. Gibson, certify that:

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of ONEOK Partners, L.P.;

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 3, 2007

 

/s/ John W. Gibson
Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 31.2

Certification

I, Curtis L. Dinan, certify that:

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of ONEOK Partners, L.P.;

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  e) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
  f) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
  g) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
  h) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  c) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
  d) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 3, 2007

 

/s/ Curtis L. Dinan
Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of ONEOK Partners, L.P. (the “Company”) for the period ending June 30, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, John W. Gibson, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

/s/ John W. Gibson

John W. Gibson

Chief Executive Officer

August 3, 2007

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to ONEOK Partners, L.P. and will be retained by ONEOK Partners, L.P. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

Exhibit 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of ONEOK Partners, L.P. (the “Company”) for the period ending June 30, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Curtis L. Dinan, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

/s/ Curtis L. Dinan

Curtis L. Dinan

Chief Financial Officer

August 3, 2007

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to ONEOK Partners, L.P. and will be retained by ONEOK Partners, L.P. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.