UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
      
þ
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018
 
Or  
  
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to       
 
Commission file number: 001-34046
    
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 
26-1075808
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
1201 Lake Robbins Drive
The Woodlands, Texas
 
77380
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
   
(832) 636-6000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes   þ     No   ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes   þ     No   ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer þ
  
Accelerated filer ¨
  
Non-accelerated filer ¨
  
Smaller reporting company ¨
 
Emerging growth company ¨
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.     ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes   ¨     No   þ
There were 152,609,285 common units outstanding as of October 29, 2018 .




TABLE OF CONTENTS

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


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COMMONLY USED TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

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

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GAAP: Generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
General partner: Western Gas Holdings, LLC.
Hydraulic fracturing: The injection of fluids into the wellbore to create fractures in rock formations, stimulating the production of oil or gas.
Imbalance: Imbalances result from (i) differences between gas and NGL volumes nominated by customers and gas and NGL volumes received from those customers and (ii) differences between gas and NGL volumes received from customers and gas and NGL volumes delivered to those customers.
IPO: Initial public offering.
LIBOR: London Interbank Offered Rate.
Marcellus Interest: Our 33.75% interest in the Larry’s Creek, Seely and Warrensville gas gathering systems and related facilities located in northern Pennsylvania.
MBbls/d: Thousand barrels per day.
MGR: Mountain Gas Resources, LLC.
MGR assets: The Red Desert complex and the Granger straddle plant.
MLP: Master limited partnership.
MMBtu: Million British thermal units.
MMcf: Million cubic feet.
MMcf/d: Million cubic feet per day.
Mont Belvieu JV: Enterprise EF78 LLC.
Natural gas liquid(s) or NGL(s): The combination of ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane and natural gasolines that, when removed from natural gas, become liquid under various levels of higher pressure and lower temperature.
Non-Operated Marcellus Interest: The 33.75% interest in the Liberty and Rome gas gathering systems and related facilities located in northern Pennsylvania that was transferred to a third party in March 2017 pursuant to the Property Exchange.
Produced water: Byproduct associated with the production of crude oil and natural gas that often contains a number of dissolved solids and other materials found in oil and gas reservoirs.
Property Exchange : Our acquisition of the Additional DBJV System Interest from a third party in exchange for the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest and $155.0 million of cash consideration, as further described in our Forms 8-K filed with the SEC on February 9, 2017, and March 23, 2017.
RCF: Our $1.5 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility.
Red Desert complex : The Patrick Draw processing plant, the Red Desert processing plant, associated gathering lines, and related facilities.
Rendezvous: Rendezvous Gas Services, LLC.
Residue: The natural gas remaining after the unprocessed natural gas stream has been processed or treated.
SEC: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Springfield gas gathering system: A gas gathering system and related facilities located in Dimmit, La Salle, Maverick and Webb Counties in South Texas.

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Springfield oil gathering system : An oil gathering system and related facilities located in Dimmit, La Salle, Maverick and Webb Counties in South Texas.
Springfield system : The Springfield gas gathering system and Springfield oil gathering system.
TEFR Interests: The interests in TEP, TEG and FRP.
TEG: Texas Express Gathering LLC.
TEP: Texas Express Pipeline LLC.
WGP: Western Gas Equity Partners, LP.
White Cliffs: White Cliffs Pipeline, LLC.
Whitethorn LLC: Whitethorn Pipeline Company LLC.
$500.0 million COP: The continuous offering program that may be undertaken pursuant to the registration statement filed with the SEC in July 2017 for the issuance of up to an aggregate of $500.0 million of our common units.


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PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

Item 1.    Financial Statements

WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except per-unit amounts
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Revenues and other – affiliates
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service revenues – fee based
 
$
204,090

 
$
157,303

 
$
582,579

 
$
484,601

Service revenues – product based
 
701

 

 
1,228

 

Product sales
 
69,723

 
185,002

 
182,372

 
489,172

Other
 

 
8,822

 

 
8,822

Total revenues and other – affiliates
 
274,514

 
351,127

 
766,179

 
982,595

Revenues and other – third parties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service revenues – fee based
 
205,016

 
148,884

 
563,520

 
428,835

Service revenues – product based
 
22,034

 

 
66,205

 

Product sales
 
5,427

 
74,139

 
35,366

 
201,318

Other
 
771

 
545

 
1,213

 
3,590

Total revenues and other – third parties
 
233,248

 
223,568

 
666,304

 
633,743

Total revenues and other
 
507,762

 
574,695

 
1,432,483

 
1,616,338

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
43,110

 
21,519

 
102,752

 
62,708

Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of product (1)
 
105,966

 
239,223

 
303,518

 
631,859

Operation and maintenance (1)
 
111,359

 
79,536

 
300,266

 
229,444

General and administrative (1)
 
14,467

 
12,158

 
42,634

 
35,402

Property and other taxes
 
10,954

 
11,215

 
35,090

 
35,433

Depreciation and amortization
 
82,553

 
72,539

 
238,187

 
216,272

Impairments
 
25,317

 
2,159

 
152,708

 
170,079

Total operating expenses
 
350,616

 
416,830

 
1,072,403

 
1,318,489

Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net   (2)
 
65

 
72

 
351

 
135,017

Proceeds from business interruption insurance claims
 

 

 

 
29,882

Operating income (loss)
 
200,321

 
179,456

 
463,183

 
525,456

Interest income – affiliates
 
4,225

 
4,225

 
12,675

 
12,675

Interest expense
 
(47,991
)
 
(35,544
)
 
(131,663
)
 
(106,794
)
Other income (expense), net
 
598

 
286

 
2,609

 
969

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
157,153

 
148,423

 
346,804

 
432,306

Income tax (benefit) expense
 
1,517

 
510

 
3,301

 
4,905

Net income (loss)
 
155,636

 
147,913

 
343,503

 
427,401

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
990

 
4,407

 
6,786

 
8,555

Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP
 
$
154,646

 
$
143,506

 
$
336,717

 
$
418,846

Limited partners’ interest in net income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP
 
$
154,646

 
$
143,506

 
$
336,717

 
$
418,846

Series A Preferred units interest in net (income) loss (3)
 

 

 

 
(42,373
)
General partner interest in net (income) loss (3)
 
(88,551
)
 
(78,376
)
 
(256,166
)
 
(222,903
)
Common and Class C limited partners’ interest in net income (loss) (3)
 
66,095

 
65,130

 
80,551

 
153,570

Net income (loss) per common unit – basic and diluted (3)
 
$
0.39

 
$
0.38

 
$
0.46

 
$
0.91

 
                                                                                                                                                                                         
(1)  
Cost of product includes product purchases from affiliates (as defined in Note 1 ) of $47.0 million and $131.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, and $22.9 million and $60.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively. Operation and maintenance includes charges from affiliates of $25.1 million and $68.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, and $18.1 million and $53.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively. General and administrative includes charges from affiliates of $11.6 million and $34.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, and $10.1 million and $29.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively. See Note 6 .
(2)  
Includes losses related to an incident at the DBM complex for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . See Note 1 .
(3)  
See Note 5 for the calculation of net income (loss) per common unit.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
thousands except number of units
 
September 30, 
 2018
 
December 31, 
 2017
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
130,668

 
$
78,814

Accounts receivable, net (1)
 
224,986

 
160,432

Other current assets (2)
 
25,970

 
14,816

Total current assets
 
381,624

 
254,062

Note receivable – Anadarko
 
260,000

 
260,000

Property, plant and equipment
 
 
 
 
Cost
 
8,912,755

 
7,864,535

Less accumulated depreciation
 
2,494,121

 
2,133,644

Net property, plant and equipment
 
6,418,634

 
5,730,891

Goodwill
 
416,160

 
416,160

Other intangible assets
 
753,947

 
775,269

Equity investments
 
786,876

 
566,211

Other assets
 
14,057

 
11,757

Total assets
 
$
9,031,298

 
$
8,014,350

LIABILITIES, EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 
 
 
 
Accounts and imbalance payables
 
$
360,651

 
$
349,801

Accrued ad valorem taxes
 
37,123

 
26,633

Accrued liabilities (3)
 
114,286

 
47,899

Total current liabilities
 
512,060

 
424,333

Long-term liabilities
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
 
4,566,464

 
3,464,712

Deferred income taxes
 
10,285

 
7,409

Asset retirement obligations
 
157,933

 
143,394

Other liabilities (4)
 
141,957

 
3,491

Total long-term liabilities
 
4,876,639

 
3,619,006

Total liabilities
 
5,388,699

 
4,043,339

Equity and partners’ capital
 
 
 
 
Common units (152,609,285 and 152,602,105 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, respectively)
 
2,595,719

 
2,950,010

Class C units (14,045,429 and 13,243,883 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017, respectively) (5)
 
787,420

 
780,040

General partner units (2,583,068 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018, and December 31, 2017)
 
199,433

 
179,232

Total partners’ capital
 
3,582,572

 
3,909,282

Noncontrolling interest
 
60,027

 
61,729

Total equity and partners’ capital
 
3,642,599

 
3,971,011

Total liabilities, equity and partners’ capital
 
$
9,031,298

 
$
8,014,350

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
Accounts receivable, net includes amounts receivable from affiliates (as defined in Note 1 ) of $59.2 million and $36.3 million as of September 30, 2018 , and December 31, 2017 , respectively.
(2)  
Other current assets includes affiliate amounts of $1.4 million and zero as of September 30, 2018 , and December 31, 2017 , respectively.
(3)  
Accrued liabilities includes affiliate amounts of $2.3 million and $0.2 million as of September 30, 2018 , and December 31, 2017 , respectively.
(4)  
Other liabilities includes affiliate amounts of $50.2 million and $0.7 million as of September 30, 2018 , and December 31, 2017 , respectively.
(5)  
The Class C units will convert into common units on a one -for-one basis on March 1, 2020, unless the Partnership elects to convert such units earlier or Anadarko extends the conversion date. See Note 5 .

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Partners’ Capital
 
 
 
 
thousands
 
Common
Units
 
Class C
Units
 
General
Partner 
Units
 
Noncontrolling
Interest
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2017
 
$
2,950,010

 
$
780,040

 
$
179,232

 
$
61,729

 
$
3,971,011

Cumulative effect of accounting change (1)
 
(41,108
)
 
(3,533
)
 
(696
)
 
958

 
(44,379
)
Net income (loss)
 
72,072

 
8,479

 
256,166

 
6,786

 
343,503

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko (2)
 
40,722

 

 

 

 
40,722

Amortization of beneficial conversion feature of Class C units
 
(2,434
)
 
2,434

 

 

 

Distributions to noncontrolling interest owner
 

 

 

 
(9,446
)
 
(9,446
)
Distributions to unitholders
 
(428,056
)
 

 
(235,354
)
 

 
(663,410
)
Contributions of equity-based compensation from Anadarko
 
4,210

 

 
85

 

 
4,295

Other
 
303

 

 

 

 
303

Balance at September 30, 2018
 
$
2,595,719

 
$
787,420

 
$
199,433

 
$
60,027

 
$
3,642,599

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
See Note 1 .
(2)  
See Note 6 .

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2018
 
2017
Cash flows from operating activities
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
343,503

 
$
427,401

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
238,187

 
216,272

Impairments
 
152,708

 
170,079

Non-cash equity-based compensation expense
 
4,620

 
3,573

Deferred income taxes
 
3,054

 
3,882

Accretion and amortization of long-term obligations, net
 
3,883

 
3,194

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
(102,752
)
 
(62,708
)
Distributions from equity investment earnings – affiliates
 
93,827

 
64,313

(Gain) loss on divestiture and other, net (1)
 
(351
)
 
(135,017
)
Lower of cost or market inventory adjustments
 
184

 
140

Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net
 
(64,544
)
 
(46,972
)
Increase (decrease) in accounts and imbalance payables and accrued liabilities, net
 
55,354

 
4,007

Change in other items, net
 
24,049

 
(3,065
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
751,722


645,099

Cash flows from investing activities
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
 
(949,022
)
 
(419,193
)
Contributions in aid of construction costs from affiliates
 

 
1,386

Acquisitions from affiliates
 
(254
)
 
(3,910
)
Acquisitions from third parties
 
(161,858
)
 
(155,298
)
Investments in equity affiliates
 
(67,979
)
 
(384
)
Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – affiliates
 
18,097

 
16,255

Proceeds from the sale of assets to third parties
 
332

 
23,370

Proceeds from property insurance claims
 

 
22,977

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(1,160,684
)

(514,797
)
Cash flows from financing activities
 
 
 
 
Borrowings, net of debt issuance costs
 
2,135,637

 
249,989

Repayments of debt
 
(1,040,000
)
 

Settlement of the Deferred purchase price obligation – Anadarko (2)
 

 
(37,346
)
Increase (decrease) in outstanding checks
 
(2,687
)
 
3,310

Proceeds from the issuance of common units, net of offering expenses
 

 
(183
)
Distributions to unitholders  (3)
 
(663,410
)
 
(589,262
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owner
 
(9,446
)
 
(9,049
)
Net contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko
 

 
30

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko (3)
 
40,722

 
46,719

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
460,816


(335,792
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
51,854


(205,490
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
78,814

 
357,925

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
130,668


$
152,435

Supplemental disclosures
 
 
 
 
Accretion expense and revisions to the Deferred purchase price obligation – Anadarko
 
$

 
$
(4,094
)
Net distributions to (contributions from) Anadarko of other assets
 

 
(1,373
)
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest
 
113,866

 
97,811

Taxes paid (reimbursements received)
 
(87
)
 
189

Accrued capital expenditures
 
178,694

 
165,732

Fair value of properties and equipment from non-cash third party transactions (2)
 

 
551,453

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
Includes losses related to an incident at the DBM complex for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . See Note 1 .
(2)  
See Note 3 .
(3)  
See Note 6 .


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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


1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

General. Western Gas Partners, LP is a growth-oriented Delaware master limited partnership (“MLP”) formed by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in 2007 to acquire, own, develop and operate midstream assets.
For purposes of these consolidated financial statements, the “Partnership” refers to Western Gas Partners, LP and its subsidiaries. The Partnership’s general partner, Western Gas Holdings, LLC (the “general partner”), is owned by Western Gas Equity Partners, LP (“WGP”), a Delaware MLP formed by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in September 2012 to own the Partnership’s general partner, as well as a significant limited partner interest in the Partnership. WGP has no independent operations or material assets other than owning the partnership interests in the Partnership (see Holdings of Partnership equity in Note 5 ). Western Gas Equity Holdings, LLC is WGP’s general partner and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. “Anadarko” refers to Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and its subsidiaries, excluding the Partnership and the general partner, and “affiliates” refers to subsidiaries of Anadarko, excluding the Partnership, but including equity interests in Fort Union Gas Gathering, LLC (“Fort Union”), White Cliffs Pipeline, LLC (“White Cliffs”), Rendezvous Gas Services, LLC (“Rendezvous”), Enterprise EF78 LLC (the “Mont Belvieu JV”), Texas Express Pipeline LLC (“TEP”), Texas Express Gathering LLC (“TEG”), Front Range Pipeline LLC (“FRP”), Whitethorn Pipeline Company LLC (“Whitethorn LLC”) and Cactus II Pipeline LLC (“Cactus II”). See Note 3 . The interests in TEP, TEG and FRP are referred to collectively as the “TEFR Interests.” “MGR assets” refers to the Red Desert complex and the Granger straddle plant.
The Partnership is engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing and transporting natural gas; gathering, stabilizing and transporting condensate, natural gas liquids (“NGLs”) and crude oil; and gathering and disposing of produced water. In addition, in its capacity as a processor of natural gas, the Partnership also buys and sells natural gas, NGLs and condensate on behalf of itself and as agent for its customers under certain of its contracts. The Partnership provides these midstream services for Anadarko, as well as for third-party producers and customers. As of September 30, 2018 , the Partnership’s assets and investments consisted of the following:
 
 
Owned and
Operated
 
Operated
Interests
 
Non-Operated
Interests
 
Equity
Interests
Gathering systems (1)
 
12

 
3

 
3

 
2

Treating facilities
 
19

 
3

 

 
3

Natural gas processing plants/trains
 
20

 
4

 

 
2

NGL pipelines
 
2

 

 

 
3

Natural gas pipelines
 
5

 

 

 

Oil pipelines
 

 
1

 

 
2

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
Includes the DBM water systems.

These assets and investments are located in the Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Utah and Wyoming), North-central Pennsylvania, Texas and New Mexico. Mentone Train I, a processing train that is part of the DBM complex, is expected to commence operation in the fourth quarter of 2018.


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

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

Basis of presentation. The following table outlines the Partnership’s ownership interests and the accounting method of consolidation used in the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements for entities not wholly owned:
 
 
Percentage Interest
Equity investments (1)
 
 
Fort Union
 
14.81
%
White Cliffs
 
10
%
Rendezvous
 
22
%
Mont Belvieu JV
 
25
%
TEP
 
20
%
TEG
 
20
%
FRP
 
33.33
%
Whitethorn
 
20
%
Cactus II
 
15
%
Proportionate consolidation (2)
 
 
Marcellus Interest systems
 
33.75
%
Newcastle system
 
50
%
Springfield system
 
50.1
%
Full consolidation
 
 
Chipeta (3)
 
75
%
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
(1)  
Investments in non-controlled entities over which the Partnership exercises significant influence are accounted for under the equity method. “Equity investment throughput” refers to the Partnership’s share of average throughput for these investments.
(2)  
The Partnership proportionately consolidates its associated share of the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses attributable to these assets.
(3)  
The 25% interest in Chipeta Processing LLC (“Chipeta”) held by a third-party member is reflected within noncontrolling interest in the consolidated financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership and entities in which it holds a controlling financial interest. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
Certain information and note disclosures commonly included in annual financial statements have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the Partnership’s 2017 Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on February 16, 2018 . Management believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading.

Adjustments to previously issued financial statements. The Partnership’s unaudited consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, include adjustments to revenue and cost of product expense of the following amounts: (i) $39.0 million increase in Service revenues - fee based, (ii) $12.6 million increase in Product sales and (iii) $51.6 million increase in Cost of product; all of which relate to the six months ended June 30, 2018. During the third quarter of 2018, management determined that under ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“Topic 606”) adopted on January 1, 2018, the Partnership’s marketing affiliate was acting as the Partnership’s agent in certain product sales transactions on behalf of the Partnership and in performing marketing services on behalf of the Partnership’s customers. The adjustments have no impact to Operating income (loss), Net income (loss), the balance sheets, cash flows or any non-GAAP metric the Partnership uses to evaluate its operations (see Key Performance Metrics under Item 2 of this Form 10-Q) and are not considered material to the Partnership’s results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The Partnership will revise its previously reported unaudited financial statements for 2018 interim periods to reflect the adjustments in future filings.

11

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

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

Presentation of Partnership assets. The term “Partnership assets” includes both the assets owned and the interests accounted for under the equity method by the Partnership as of September 30, 2018 (see Note 8 ). Because Anadarko controls the Partnership through its control of WGP, which owns the Partnership’s entire general partner interest, each acquisition of Partnership assets from Anadarko has been considered a transfer of net assets between entities under common control. As such, the Partnership assets acquired from Anadarko were initially recorded at Anadarko’s historic carrying value, which did not correlate to the total acquisition price paid by the Partnership. Further, after an acquisition of Partnership assets from Anadarko, the Partnership may be required to recast its financial statements to include the activities of such Partnership assets from the date of common control.
For those periods requiring recast, the consolidated financial statements for periods prior to the Partnership’s acquisition of the Partnership assets from Anadarko are prepared from Anadarko’s historical cost-basis accounts and may not necessarily be indicative of the actual results of operations that would have occurred if the Partnership had owned the Partnership assets during the periods reported. Net income (loss) attributable to the Partnership assets acquired from Anadarko for periods prior to the Partnership’s acquisition of the Partnership assets is not allocated to the limited partners.

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

Shutdown of gathering systems. In May 2018, after assessing a number of factors, with safety and protection of the environment as the primary focus, the Partnership decided to take the Kitty Draw gathering system in Wyoming (part of the Hilight system) and the Third Creek gathering system in Colorado (part of the DJ Basin complex) permanently out of service. Results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , reflect (i) accruals of zero and $10.9 million , respectively, in anticipated costs associated with the shutdown of the systems, recorded as a reduction in affiliate Product sales in the consolidated statements of operations and (ii) impairment expense of $6.8 million and $134.0 million , respectively, associated with reducing the net book value of the gathering systems and increasing the asset retirement obligation.

Insurance recoveries. In December 2015, there was an initial fire and secondary explosion at the processing facility within the Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC (“DBM”) complex. The majority of the damage from the incident was to the liquid handling facilities and the amine treating units at the inlet of the complex. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , a $5.7 million loss was recorded in Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations, related to a change in the Partnership’s estimate of the amount that would be recovered under the property insurance claim based on further discussions with insurers. During the second quarter of 2017, the Partnership reached a settlement with insurers and final proceeds were received. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , the Partnership received $52.9 million in cash proceeds from insurers, including $29.9 million in proceeds from business interruption insurance claims and $23.0 million in proceeds from property insurance claims.

Recently adopted accounting standards. Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash requires an entity to explain the changes in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents on the statement of cash flows and to provide a reconciliation of the totals in that statement to the related captions in the balance sheet when the cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents are presented in more than one line item on the balance sheet. The Partnership adopted this ASU using a retrospective approach on January 1, 2018, and the adoption did not impact the consolidated financial statements.


12

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

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

Revenue from contracts with customers (Topic 606). The Partnership adopted Topic 606 on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective method applied to contracts that were not completed as of January 1, 2018. The cumulative effect adjustment that was recognized in the opening balance of equity and partners’ capital was a decrease of $44.4 million . The comparative historical financial information has not been adjusted and continues to be reported under Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) (“Topic 605”).
    
Effective January 1, 2018, the Partnership changed its accounting policy for revenue recognition as detailed below:

Fee-based gathering / processing. Under Topic 605, fee revenues were recognized based on the rate in effect for the month of service, even when certain fees were charged on an upfront or limited-term basis. In addition, deficiency fees were charged and recognized only when the customer did not meet the specified delivery minimums for the completed performance period. Under Topic 606, (i) revenues continue to be recognized based on the rate in effect when the fee is either the same rate per unit over the contract term or when the fee escalates and the escalation factor approximates inflation, (ii) deficiency fees are estimated and recognized during the performance period as the services are performed for the customer’s delivered volumes, and (iii) timing differences between Service revenues – fee based recognized and amounts billed to customers are recognized as contract assets or contract liabilities, as appropriate, which results in a change in the timing of revenue and changes to net income as a result of the revenue contract’s consideration provisions. In addition, under Topic 606, revenue associated with upfront or limited-term fees is recognized over the expected period of customer benefit, which is generally the life of the related properties. These revenues also include revenues earned for marketing services performed on behalf of the Partnership’s customers, and the expense associated with these marketing activities is recognized in cost of product expense, resulting in no impact to operating income.

Cost of service rate adjustments. Under Topic 605, revenue was recognized based on the amounts billed to customers each period as Service revenues – fee based. Under Topic 606, fixed minimum volume commitment demand fees and variable fees that are also billed on these minimum volumes are recognized as Service revenues – fee based on a consistent per-unit rate over the term of the contract. Annual adjustments are made to the cost of service rates charged to customers, and, as a result, a cumulative catch-up revenue adjustment related to the services already provided under the contract may be recorded in future periods, with revenues for the remaining term of the contract recognized on a consistent per-unit rate. Fees received on volumes in excess of the minimum volumes are recognized as Service revenues – fee based as service is provided to the customer based on the billing rate in effect for the performance period. This revenue recognition timing does not affect billings to customers, and differences between amounts billed and revenue recognized are recorded as contract assets or liabilities, as appropriate.

Aid in construction. Under Topic 605, aid in construction reimbursements were reflected as a reduction to property, plant and equipment upon receipt (and a reduction to capital expenditures). Under Topic 606, reimbursement of capital costs received from customers is reflected as a contract liability (deferred revenue) upon receipt. The contract liability is amortized to Service revenues – fee based over the expected period of customer benefit, which is generally the life of the related properties.

Percent-of-proceeds gathering / processing. Under Topic 605, the Partnership recognized cost of product expense when the product was purchased from a producer to whom it provides services, and the Partnership recognized revenue when the product was sold to Anadarko or a third party. Under Topic 606, in some instances, where all or a percentage of the proceeds from the sale must be returned to the producer, the net margin from the purchase and sale transactions is presented net within Service revenues – product based because the Partnership is acting as the producer’s agent in the product sale.


13

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

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

Noncash consideration - keep-whole and percent-of-product agreements. Under Topic 605, the Partnership recognized revenues only upon the sale of the related products. Under Topic 606, (i) Service revenues – product based is recognized for the products received as noncash consideration in exchange for the services provided, with the keep-whole noncash consideration value based on the net value of the NGLs over the replacement residue gas cost, and (ii) product sales revenue is recognized, along with cost of product expense related to the sale, when the product is sold to Anadarko or a third party. When the product is sold to Anadarko, Anadarko is acting as the Partnership’s agent in the product sale and the Partnership recognizes revenue, along with cost of product expense related to the sale, based on the Anadarko sales price to the third party, resulting in no impact to operating income.

Wellhead purchase / sale incorporated into gathering / processing. Under Topic 605, the natural gas purchase cost was recognized as cost of product expense and any specified gathering or processing fees charged to the producer were recognized as revenues. Under Topic 606, the fees charged to the producer under this contract type are recognized as adjustments to the amount recognized in cost of product expense instead of revenues when such fees relate to services performed after control of the product transfers to the Partnership.

The following tables summarize the impact of adopting Topic 606 on the impacted line items within the consolidated statements of operations and the consolidated balance sheet. The differences between revenue as reported following Topic 606 and revenue as it would have been reported under Topic 605 are due to the changes described above.
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30, 2018
thousands
 
As Reported
 
Without Adoption of Topic 606
 
Effect of Change
Increase / (Decrease)
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service revenues – fee based
 
$
409,106

 
$
396,161

 
$
12,945

Service revenues – product based
 
22,735

 

 
22,735

Product sales
 
75,150

 
366,603

 
(291,453
)
Expenses
 
 
 
 
 


Cost of product
 
105,966

 
353,641

 
(247,675
)
Operation and maintenance
 
111,359

 
111,327

 
32

Depreciation and amortization
 
82,553

 
81,824

 
729

Income tax (benefit) expense
 
1,517

 
1,580

 
(63
)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
990

 
3,166

 
(2,176
)
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP
 
154,646

 
161,266

 
(6,620
)
 


14

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

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

 
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30, 2018
thousands
 
As Reported
 
Without Adoption of Topic 606
 
Effect of Change
Increase / (Decrease)
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service revenues – fee based
 
$
1,146,099

 
$
1,096,708

 
$
49,391

Service revenues – product based
 
67,433

 

 
67,433

Product sales
 
217,738

 
978,127

 
(760,389
)
Expenses
 
 
 
 
 


Cost of product
 
303,518

 
940,936

 
(637,418
)
Operation and maintenance
 
300,266

 
300,098

 
168

Depreciation and amortization
 
238,187

 
236,102

 
2,085

Impairments
 
152,708

 
152,663

 
45

Income tax (benefit) expense
 
3,301

 
3,361

 
(60
)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
6,786

 
7,718

 
(932
)
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP
 
336,717

 
344,170

 
(7,453
)
 
 
 
September 30, 2018
thousands
 
As Reported
 
Without Adoption of Topic 606
 
Effect of Change
Increase / (Decrease)
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other current assets
 
$
25,970

 
$
23,222

 
$
2,748

Net property, plant and equipment
 
6,418,634

 
6,320,225

 
98,409

Other assets
 
14,057

 
13,894

 
163

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 


Accrued liabilities
 
114,286

 
106,592

 
7,694

Deferred income taxes
 
10,285

 
10,519

 
(234
)
Other liabilities
 
141,957

 
2,781

 
139,176

Equity and partners’ capital
 
 
 
 
 


Total equity and partners’ capital
 
3,642,599

 
3,687,915

 
(45,316
)


15

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

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

New accounting standards issued but not yet adopted.   ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset for all leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than 12 months on the balance sheet. This ASU modifies the definition of a lease and outlines the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of leasing arrangements by both lessees and lessors. The Partnership plans to make certain elections allowing the Partnership not to reassess contracts that commenced prior to adoption, to continue applying its current accounting policy for existing or expired land easements and not to recognize ROU assets or lease liabilities for short-term leases. The Partnership continues to review contracts in its portfolio of leased assets to assess the impact of adopting this ASU, which is expected to primarily impact other assets and other long-term liabilities. To facilitate compliance with this ASU, the Partnership expects to implement new accounting software and complete the evaluation of its systems, processes and internal controls by the end of 2018. The Partnership will adopt this ASU on January 1, 2019, using a modified retrospective approach. As permitted by ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements , the Partnership does not expect to adjust comparative period financial statements.

Revenue and cost of product. Upon adoption of the new revenue recognition standard on January 1, 2018 (discussed in Recently adopted accounting standards ), the Partnership changed its accounting policy for revenue recognition as described below.
The Partnership provides gathering, processing, treating, transportation and disposal services pursuant to a variety of contracts. Under these arrangements, the Partnership receives fees and/or retains a percentage of products or a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the customer’s products. These revenues are included in Service revenues and Product sales in the consolidated statements of operations. Payment is generally received from the customer in the month following the service or delivery of the product. Contracts with customers generally have initial terms ranging from 5 to 10 years.
Service revenues fee based is recognized for fee-based contracts in the month of service based on the volumes delivered by the customer. Producers’ wells or production facilities are connected to the Partnership’s gathering systems for gathering, processing, treating, transportation and disposal of natural gas, NGLs, condensate, crude oil and produced water, as applicable. Revenues are valued based on the rate in effect for the month of service when the fee is either the same rate per unit over the contract term or when the fee escalates and the escalation factor approximates inflation. Deficiency fees charged to customers that do not meet their minimum delivery requirements are recognized as services are performed based on an estimate of the fees that will be billed upon completion of the performance period. Because of its significant upfront capital investment, the Partnership may charge additional service fees to customers for only a portion of the contract term (i.e., for the first year of a contract or until reaching a volume threshold), and these fees are recognized as revenue over the expected period of customer benefit, which is generally the life of the related properties. The Partnership also recognizes revenue and cost of product expense from marketing services performed on behalf of its customers by Anadarko.
The Partnership also receives Service revenues fee based from contracts that have minimum volume commitment demand fees and fees that require periodic rate redeterminations based upon the related facility cost of service. These fees include fixed and variable consideration that are recognized on a consistent per-unit rate over the term of the contract. Annual adjustments are made to the cost of service rates charged to customers, and a cumulative catch-up revenue adjustment related to services already provided to the minimum volumes under the contract may be recorded in future periods, with revenues for the remaining term of the contract recognized on a consistent per-unit rate.
Service revenues product based includes service revenues from percent-of-proceeds gathering and processing contracts that are recognized net of the cost of product for purchases from the Partnership’s customers since it is acting as the agent in the product sale. Keep-whole and percent-of-product agreements result in Service revenues product based being recognized when the natural gas and/or NGLs are received from the customer as noncash consideration for the services provided. Noncash consideration for these services is valued at the time the services are provided. Revenue from product sales is also recognized, along with the cost of product expense related to the sale, when the product received as noncash consideration is sold to either Anadarko or a third party. When the product is sold to Anadarko, Anadarko is acting as the Partnership’s agent in the product sale, with the Partnership recognizing revenue and related cost of product expense associated with these marketing activities based on the Anadarko sales price to the third party.
    

16

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

1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (CONTINUED)
    
The Partnership also purchases natural gas volumes from producers at the wellhead or from a production facility, typically at an index price, and charges the producer fees associated with the downstream gathering and processing services. When the fees relate to services performed after control of the product has transferred to the Partnership, the fees are treated as a reduction of the purchase cost. Revenue from product sales is recognized, along with cost of product expense related to the sale, when the purchased product is sold to either Anadarko or a third party.    
The Partnership receives aid in construction reimbursements for certain capital costs necessary to provide services to customers (i.e., connection costs, etc.) under certain service contracts. Aid in construction reimbursements are reflected as a contract liability upon receipt and amortized to Service revenues fee based over the expected period of customer benefit, which is generally the life of the related properties.

2. REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS

The following table summarizes the Partnership’s revenue from contracts with customers:
thousands
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30, 2018
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30, 2018
Revenue from customers
 
 
 
 
Service revenues – fee based
 
$
409,106

 
$
1,146,099

Service revenues – product based
 
22,735

 
67,433

Product sales
 
78,887

 
224,089

Total revenue from customers
 
510,728

 
1,437,621

Revenue from other than customers
 
 
 
 
Net gains (losses) on commodity price swap agreements
 
(3,737
)
 
(6,351
)
Other
 
771

 
1,213

Total revenues and other
 
$
507,762

 
$
1,432,483

 

Contract balances. Receivables from customers, which are included in Accounts receivable, net on the consolidated balance sheets were $298.2 million and $244.4 million as of September 30, 2018 , and December 31, 2017 , respectively.
Contract assets primarily relate to accrued deficiency fees the Partnership expects to charge customers once the related performance periods are completed. The following table summarizes the current period activity related to contract assets from contracts with customers:
thousands
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2017
 
$

Cumulative effect of adopting Topic 606
 
5,129

Amounts transferred to Accounts receivable, net from contract assets recognized in the adoption effect (1)
 
(4,358
)
Additional estimated revenues recognized (2)
 
2,140

Balance at September 30, 2018
 
$
2,911

 
 
 
Contract assets at September 30, 2018
 
 
Other current assets
 
$
2,748

Other assets
 
163

Total contract assets from contracts with customers
 
$
2,911

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
Includes $(1.7) million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 .
(2)  
Includes $(5.0) million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 .


17

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

2. REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS (CONTINUED)

Contract liabilities primarily relate to (i) fees that are charged to customers for only a portion of the contract term and must be recognized as revenues over the expected period of customer benefit, (ii) fixed and variable fees under cost of service contracts that are received from customers for which revenue recognition is deferred and (iii) aid in construction payments received from customers that must be recognized over the expected period of customer benefit. The following table summarizes the current period activity related to contract liabilities from contracts with customers:
thousands
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2017
 
$

Cumulative effect of adopting Topic 606
 
120,717

Cash received or receivable, excluding revenues recognized during the period (1)
 
37,340

Revenues recognized during the period that were included in the adoption effect (2)
 
(10,850
)
Balance at September 30, 2018
 
$
147,207

 
 
 
Contract liabilities at September 30, 2018
 
 
Accrued liabilities
 
$
8,031

Other liabilities
 
139,176

Total contract liabilities from contracts with customers
 
$
147,207

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
Includes $(3.7) million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 .
(2)  
Includes $(8.8) million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , of which $(7.5) million was from a performance obligation satisfied in a previous period related to the arbitration against SWEPI LP (see Note 11 ).

Transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations. Revenues expected to be recognized from certain performance obligations that are unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied) as of September 30, 2018 , are reflected in the following table. The Partnership applies the optional exemptions in Topic 606 and does not disclose consideration for remaining performance obligations with an original expected duration of one year or less or for variable consideration related to unsatisfied (or partially unsatisfied) performance obligations. Therefore, the following table represents only a small portion of expected future revenues from existing contracts as most future revenues from customers are dependent on future variable customer volumes and in some cases variable commodity prices for those volumes.
thousands
 
 
Remainder of 2018
 
$
124,395

2019
 
480,211

2020
 
545,223

2021
 
524,810

2022
 
528,900

Thereafter
 
2,191,811

Total
 
$
4,395,350



18

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

3. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

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

Cactus II acquisition. In June 2018, the Partnership acquired a 15% interest in Cactus II, which will own a crude oil pipeline operated by a third party (the “Cactus II pipeline”) connecting West Texas to the Corpus Christi area. The Cactus II pipeline is under construction and expected to become operational in the fourth quarter of 2019. The Partnership acquired its 15% interest from a third party via an initial net investment of $11.3 million , which represented its share of costs incurred up to the date of acquisition. The initial investment was funded with cash on hand and the interest in Cactus II is accounted for under the equity method. See Note 8 .

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

DBJV acquisition - Deferred purchase price obligation - Anadarko. Prior to the Partnership’s agreement with Anadarko to settle its deferred purchase price obligation early, the consideration that would have been paid by the Partnership for the March 2015 acquisition of DBJV from Anadarko consisted of a cash payment to Anadarko due on March 31, 2020. In May 2017, the Partnership reached an agreement with Anadarko to settle this obligation with a cash payment to Anadarko of $37.3 million , which was equal to the estimated net present value of the obligation at March 31, 2017.

Helper and Clawson systems divestiture. During the second quarter of 2017, the Helper and Clawson systems, located in Utah, were sold to a third party, resulting in a net gain on sale of $16.3 million recorded as Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations.


19

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

4. PARTNERSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS

The partnership agreement requires the Partnership to distribute all of its available cash (as defined in the partnership agreement) to unitholders of record on the applicable record date within 45 days of the end of each quarter. The Board of Directors of the Partnership’s general partner (the “Board of Directors”) declared the following cash distributions to the Partnership’s common and general partner unitholders for the periods presented:
thousands except per-unit amounts
Quarters Ended
 
Total Quarterly
Distribution
per Unit
 
Total Quarterly
Cash Distribution
 
Date of
Distribution
2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31
 
$
0.875

 
$
188,753

 
May 2017
June 30
 
0.890

 
207,491

 
August 2017
September 30
 
0.905

 
212,038

 
November 2017
December 31
 
0.920

 
216,586

 
February 2018
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31
 
$
0.935

 
$
221,133

 
May 2018
June 30
 
0.950

 
225,691

 
August 2018
September 30 (1)
 
0.965

 
230,239

 
November 2018
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
The Board of Directors declared a cash distribution to the Partnership’s unitholders for the third quarter of 2018 of $0.965 per unit, or $230.2 million in aggregate, including incentive distributions, but excluding distributions on Class C units (see Class C unit distributions below). The cash distribution is payable on November 13, 2018 , to unitholders of record at the close of business on October 31, 2018 .

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

Class C unit distributions. The Class C units receive quarterly distributions at a rate equivalent to the Partnership’s common units. The distributions are paid in the form of additional Class C units (“PIK Class C units”) until the scheduled conversion date on March 1, 2020 (unless earlier converted), and the Class C units are disregarded with respect to distributions of the Partnership’s available cash until they are converted into common units. The number of additional PIK Class C units to be issued in connection with a distribution payable on the Class C units is determined by dividing the corresponding distribution attributable to the Class C units by the volume-weighted-average price of the Partnership’s common units for the ten days immediately preceding the payment date for the common unit distribution, less a 6% discount. The Partnership records the PIK Class C unit distributions at fair value at the time of issuance. This Level 2 fair value measurement uses the Partnership’s unit price as a significant input in the determination of the fair value. See Note 5 for further discussion of the Class C units.

20

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

4. PARTNERSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS (CONTINUED)

Series A Preferred unit distributions. As further described in Note 5 , the Partnership issued Series A Preferred units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership to private investors in 2016. The Series A Preferred unitholders received quarterly distributions in cash equal to $0.68 per Series A Preferred unit, subject to certain adjustments. On March 1, 2017, 50% of the outstanding Series A Preferred units converted into common units on a one -for-one basis, and on May 2, 2017, all remaining Series A Preferred units converted into common units on a one -for-one basis. Such converted common units were entitled to distributions made to common unitholders with respect to the quarter during which the applicable conversion occurred and did not include a prorated Series A Preferred unit distribution. For the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the Series A Preferred unitholders received an aggregate cash distribution of $7.5 million (paid in May 2017).

General partner interest and incentive distribution rights. As of September 30, 2018 , the general partner was entitled to 1.5% of all quarterly distributions that the Partnership makes prior to its liquidation and, as the holder of the incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”), was entitled to incentive distributions at the maximum distribution sharing percentage of 48.0% for all periods presented, after the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels had been achieved. The maximum distribution sharing percentage of 49.5% does not include any distributions that the general partner may receive on common units that it may acquire.

5. EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

Equity offerings. In July 2017, the Partnership filed a registration statement with the SEC for the issuance of up to an aggregate of $500.0 million of common units pursuant to a new continuous offering program that has not yet been initiated.

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

Series A Preferred units. In 2016, the Partnership issued 21,922,831 Series A Preferred units to private investors. The Series A Preferred units were issued at a discount to the then-current market price of the common units into which they were convertible, representing a beneficial conversion feature at issuance. The impact of the beneficial conversion feature amortization was included in the calculation of earnings per unit. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , the amortization for the beneficial conversion feature of the Series A Preferred units was $62.3 million .
Pursuant to an agreement between the Partnership and the holders of the Series A Preferred units, 50% of the Series A Preferred units converted into common units on a one -for-one basis on March 1, 2017, and all remaining Series A Preferred units converted into common units on a one -for-one basis on May 2, 2017.

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

5. EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL (CONTINUED)

Partnership interests. The Partnership’s common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WES.”
The following table summarizes the Partnership’s units issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 :
 
 
Common
Units
 
Class C
Units
 
General
Partner
Units
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2017
 
152,602,105


13,243,883

 
2,583,068


168,429,056

PIK Class C units
 

 
801,546

 

 
801,546

Long-Term Incentive Plan award vestings
 
7,180

 

 

 
7,180

Balance at September 30, 2018
 
152,609,285

 
14,045,429

 
2,583,068

 
169,237,782


Holdings of Partnership equity. As of September 30, 2018 , WGP h el d 50,132,046 common units, representing a 29.6% limited partner interest in the Partnership, and, through its ownership of the general partner, WGP indirectly held 2,583,068 general partner units, representing a 1.5% general partner interest in the Partnership, and 100% of the IDRs. As of September 30, 2018 , (i) other subsidiaries of Anadarko collectively held 2,011,380 common units and 14,045,429 Class C units, representing an aggregate 9.5% limited partner interest in the Partnership and (ii) the public held 100,465,859 common units, representing the remaining 59.4% limited partner interest in the Partnership.

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

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

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

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


22

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

5. EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL (CONTINUED)

Calculation of net income (loss) per unit. Basic net income (loss) per common unit is calculated by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common unitholders by the weighted-average number of common units outstanding during the period. The common units issued in connection with acquisitions and equity offerings are included on a weighted-average basis for periods they were outstanding. Diluted net income (loss) per common unit is calculated by dividing the sum of (i) the net income (loss) attributable to common units adjusted for distributions on the Series A Preferred units and a reallocation of the common and Class C limited partners’ interest in net income (loss) assuming, prior to the actual conversion, conversion of the Series A Preferred units into common units, and (ii) the net income (loss) attributable to the Class C units as a participating security, by the sum of the weighted-average number of common units outstanding plus the dilutive effect of (i) the weighted-average number of outstanding Class C units and (ii) the weighted-average number of common units outstanding assuming, prior to the actual conversion, conversion of the Series A Preferred units.
The following table illustrates the Partnership’s calculation of net income (loss) per common unit:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except per-unit amounts
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP
 
$
154,646

 
$
143,506

 
$
336,717

 
$
418,846

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

 

 

 
(42,373
)
General partner interest in net (income) loss
 
(88,551
)
 
(78,376
)
 
(256,166
)
 
(222,903
)
Common and Class C limited partners’ interest in net income (loss)
 
$
66,095

 
$
65,130

 
$
80,551

 
$
153,570

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

 
$
57,448

 
$
69,638

 
$
132,545

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

 
7,682

 
10,913

 
21,025

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

 
$
65,130

 
$
80,551

 
$
153,570

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

 
$
0.38

 
$
0.46

 
$
0.91

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

 
152,602

 
152,605

 
145,371

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

 
12,873

 
13,652

 
12,660

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

 

 

 
7,227

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
Adjusted to reflect amortization of the beneficial conversion features.
(2)  
The impact of Class C units would be anti-dilutive for all periods presented and the conversion of Series A Preferred units would be anti-dilutive for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . On March 1, 2017, 50% of the outstanding Series A Preferred units converted into common units on a one -for-one basis, and on May 2, 2017, all remaining Series A Preferred units converted into common units on a one -for-one basis.


23

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

6. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

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

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

Note receivable - Anadarko. Concurrently with the closing of the Partnership’s May 2008 initial public offering, the Partnership loaned $260.0 million to Anadarko in exchange for a 30-year note bearing interest at a fixed annual rate of 6.50% , payable quarterly. The fair value of the note receivable from Anadarko was $300.9 million and $325.2 million at September 30, 2018 , and December 31, 2017 , respectively. The fair value of the note reflects consideration of credit risk and any premium or discount for the differential between the stated interest rate and quarter-end market interest rate, based on quoted market prices of similar debt instruments. Accordingly, the fair value of the note receivable from Anadarko is measured using Level 2 inputs.

Commodity price swap agreements. The Partnership has commodity price swap agreements with Anadarko to mitigate exposure to a majority of the commodity price risk inherent in its percent-of-proceeds, percent-of-product and keep-whole contracts. Notional volumes for each of the commodity price swap agreements are not specifically defined. Instead, the commodity price swap agreements apply to the actual volume of natural gas, condensate and NGLs purchased and sold. The commodity price swap agreements do not satisfy the definition of a derivative financial instrument and, therefore, are not required to be measured at fair value. The Partnership’s net gains (losses) on commodity price swap agreements were $(3.7) million and $(6.4) million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, and $(1.0) million and $(0.6) million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively, and are reported in the consolidated statements of operations as affiliate Product sales in 2018 and as affiliate Product sales and Cost of product expense in 2017 (see Note 1 ).


24

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

6. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (CONTINUED)

Revenues or costs attributable to volumes sold and purchased during 2017 and 2018 for the DJ Basin complex and MGR assets are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations at the applicable market price in the tables below. The Partnership also records a capital contribution from Anadarko in its consolidated statement of equity and partners’ capital for an amount equal to (i) the amount by which the swap price for product sales exceeds the applicable market price in the tables below, minus (ii) the amount by which the swap price for product purchases exceeds the market price in the tables below. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , the capital contribution from Anadarko was $40.7 million . The tables below summarize the swap prices compared to the forward market prices:
 
 
DJ Basin Complex
per barrel except natural gas
 
2017 - 2018 Swap Prices
 
2017 Market Prices (1)
 
2018 Market Prices (1)
Ethane
 
$
18.41

 
$
5.09

 
$
5.41

Propane
 
47.08

 
18.85

 
28.72

Isobutane
 
62.09

 
26.83

 
32.92

Normal butane
 
54.62

 
26.20

 
32.71

Natural gasoline
 
72.88

 
41.84

 
48.04

Condensate
 
76.47

 
45.40

 
49.36

Natural gas (per MMBtu)
 
5.96

 
3.05

 
2.21


 
 
MGR Assets
per barrel except natural gas
 
2017 - 2018 Swap Prices
 
2017 Market Prices (1)
 
2018 Market Prices (1)
Ethane
 
$
23.11

 
$
4.08

 
$
2.52

Propane
 
52.90

 
19.24

 
25.83

Isobutane
 
73.89

 
25.79

 
30.03

Normal butane
 
64.93

 
25.16

 
29.82

Natural gasoline
 
81.68

 
45.01

 
47.25

Condensate
 
81.68

 
53.55

 
56.76

Natural gas (per MMBtu)
 
4.87

 
3.05

 
2.21

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
Represents the New York Mercantile Exchange forward strip price as of December 1, 2016, and December 20, 2017 , for the 2017 Market Prices and 2018 Market Prices, respectively, adjusted for product specification, location, basis and, in the case of NGLs, transportation and fractionation costs.

Gathering and processing agreements. The Partnership has significant gathering and processing arrangements with affiliates of Anadarko on a majority of its systems. The Partnership’s natural gas gathering, treating and transportation throughput (excluding equity investment throughput) attributable to production owned or controlled by Anadarko was 41% and 37% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, and 33% and 34% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively. The Partnership’s natural gas processing throughput (excluding equity investment throughput) attributable to production owned or controlled by Anadarko was 35% for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , and 39% and 42% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively. The Partnership’s crude oil, NGL and produced water gathering, treating, transportation and disposal throughput (excluding equity investment throughput) attributable to production owned or controlled by Anadarko was 77% and 71% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, and 54% and 50% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively.


25

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

6. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (CONTINUED)

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

WES LTIP. The general partner awards phantom units under the Western Gas Partners, LP 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan, effective October 17, 2017. Awards granted prior to October 17, 2017, were awarded under the Western Gas Partners, LP 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan. These awards are primarily granted to its independent directors, but also from time to time to its executive officers and Anadarko employees performing services for the Partnership. The phantom units awarded to the independent directors vest one year from the grant date, while all other awards are subject to graded vesting over a three -year service period. Compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period and was $0.1 million for each of the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , and $0.3 million for each of the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 .

Anadarko Incentive Plan. General and administrative expenses included $1.4 million and $5.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, and $1.2 million and $3.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively, of equity-based compensation expense, allocated to the Partnership by Anadarko, for awards granted to the executive officers of the general partner and other employees under the Anadarko Petroleum Corporation 2012 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (“Anadarko Incentive Plan”). Of this amount, $4.3 million is reflected as contributions to partners’ capital in the Partnership’s consolidated statement of equity and partners’ capital for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 .

Purchases. The following table summarizes the Partnership’s purchases from Anadarko of pipe and equipment:
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
thousands
 
2018
 
2017
Cash consideration
 
$
254

 
$
3,910

Net carrying value
 
(254
)
 
(5,283
)
Partners’ capital adjustment
 
$

 
$
(1,373
)

Contributions in aid of construction costs from affiliates. On certain of the Partnership’s capital projects, Anadarko is obligated to reimburse the Partnership for all or a portion of project capital expenditures. The majority of such arrangements are associated with projects related to pipeline construction activities and production well tie-ins. For periods prior to January 1, 2018, the cash receipts resulting from such reimbursements were presented as “Contributions in aid of construction costs from affiliates” within the investing section of the consolidated statements of cash flows. As discussed in Recently adopted accounting standards in Note 1 , upon adoption of Topic 606, affiliate reimbursements of capital costs are reflected as contract liabilities upon receipt, amortized to Service revenues fee based over the expected period of customer benefit, and presented within the operating section of the consolidated statements of cash flows.


26

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

6. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (CONTINUED)

Summary of affiliate transactions. The following table summarizes material affiliate transactions:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Revenues and other (1)
 
$
274,514

 
$
351,127

 
$
766,179

 
$
982,595

Equity income, net   – affiliates (1)
 
43,110

 
21,519

 
102,752

 
62,708

Cost of product (1)
 
46,971

 
22,902

 
131,428

 
60,497

Operation and maintenance (2)
 
25,145

 
18,110

 
68,830

 
53,661

General and administrative (3)
 
11,579

 
10,140

 
34,371

 
29,040

Operating expenses
 
83,695

 
51,152

 
234,629

 
143,198

Interest income (4)
 
4,225

 
4,225

 
12,675

 
12,675

Interest expense (5)
 

 

 

 
71

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

 

 

 
(37,346
)
Distributions to unitholders (7)
 
130,249

 
118,082

 
381,617

 
331,654

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko
 
12,601

 
18,049

 
40,722

 
46,719

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
Represents amounts earned or incurred on and subsequent to the date of the acquisition of Partnership assets, as well as amounts earned or incurred by Anadarko on a historical basis related to the Partnership assets prior to the acquisition of such assets, recognized under gathering, treating or processing agreements, and purchase and sale agreements.
(2)  
Represents expenses incurred on and subsequent to the date of the acquisition of Partnership assets, as well as expenses incurred by Anadarko on a historical basis related to the Partnership assets prior to the acquisition of such assets.
(3)  
Represents general and administrative expense incurred on and subsequent to the date of the acquisition of Partnership assets, as well as a management services fee for reimbursement of expenses incurred by Anadarko for periods prior to the acquisition of the Partnership assets by the Partnership. These amounts include equity-based compensation expense allocated to the Partnership by Anadarko (see WES LTIP and Anadarko Incentive Plan within this Note 6 ).
(4)  
Represents interest income recognized on the note receivable from Anadarko.
(5)  
Includes amounts related to the Deferred purchase price obligation - Anadarko (see Note 3 and Note 10 ).
(6)  
Represents the cash payment to Anadarko for the settlement of the Deferred purchase price obligation - Anadarko (see Note 3 ).
(7)  
Represents distributions paid under the partnership agreement (see Note 4 and Note 5 ).

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


27

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

7. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

A summary of the historical cost of property, plant and equipment is as follows:
thousands
 
Estimated Useful Life
 
September 30, 
 2018
 
December 31, 
 2017
Land
 
n/a
 
$
4,653

 
$
4,450

Gathering systems and processing complexes
 
3 to 47 years
 
7,883,265

 
7,113,114

Pipelines and equipment
 
15 to 45 years
 
137,769

 
137,644

Assets under construction
 
n/a
 
856,092

 
579,501

Other
 
3 to 40 years
 
30,976

 
29,826

Total property, plant and equipment
 
 
 
8,912,755

 
7,864,535

Less accumulated depreciation
 
 
 
2,494,121

 
2,133,644

Net property, plant and equipment
 
 
 
$
6,418,634

 
$
5,730,891


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

Impairments. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , the Partnership recognized impairments of $152.7 million , including impairments of $125.9 million at the Third Creek gathering system and $8.1 million at the Kitty Draw gathering system. These assets were impaired to their estimated salvage values of $1.8 million and zero , respectively, using the market approach and Level 3 fair value inputs, due to the shutdown of the systems. See Note 1 for further information. The remaining $18.7 million of impairments was primarily related to (i) a $10.9 million impairment at the GNB NGL pipeline, which was impaired to its estimated fair value of $10.0 million using the income approach and Level 3 fair value inputs, and (ii) a $5.6 million impairment related to an idle facility at the Chipeta complex, which was impaired to its estimated salvage value of $1.5 million using the market approach and Level 3 fair value inputs.
During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Partnership recognized impairments of $178.4 million , including an impairment of $158.8 million at the Granger complex, which was impaired to its estimated fair value of $48.5 million using the income approach and Level 3 fair value inputs, due to a reduced throughput fee as a result of a producer’s bankruptcy. The remaining $19.6 million of impairments was primarily related to (i) an $8.2 million impairment due to the cancellation of a plant project at the Hilight system, (ii) a $3.7 million impairment at the Granger straddle plant, which was impaired to its estimated salvage value of $0.6 million using the income approach and Level 3 fair value inputs, (iii) a $3.1 million impairment of the Fort Union equity investment, (iv) a $2.0 million impairment of an idle facility in northeast Wyoming, which was impaired to its estimated salvage value of $0.4 million using the market approach and Level 3 fair value inputs, and (v) the cancellation of a pipeline project in West Texas.


28

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

8. EQUITY INVESTMENTS

The following table presents the activity in the Partnership’s equity investments for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 :
thousands
 
Fort
Union
 
White
Cliffs
 
Rendezvous
 
Mont
Belvieu JV
 
TEFR
Interests
 
Whitethorn
 
Cactus II
 
Total
Balance at December 31, 2017
 
$
7,030

 
$
44,945

 
$
42,528

 
$
110,299

 
$
361,409

 
$

 
$

 
$
566,211

Acquisitions
 

 

 

 

 

 
150,563

 
11,295

 
161,858

Investment earnings (loss), net of amortization
 
(892
)
 
8,547

 
635

 
22,916

 
47,736

 
23,810

 

 
102,752

Contributions
 

 
1,278

 

 

 
24,680

 
7,069

 
34,436

 
67,463

Capitalized interest
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
516

 
516

Distributions
 
(194
)
 
(8,111
)
 
(2,091
)
 
(22,945
)
 
(43,989
)
 
(16,497
)
 

 
(93,827
)
Distributions in excess of cumulative earnings (1)
 
(2,889
)
 
(3,109
)
 
(2,015
)
 
(3,305
)
 
(6,779
)
 

 

 
(18,097
)
Balance at September 30, 2018
 
$
3,055

 
$
43,550

 
$
39,057

 
$
106,965

 
$
383,057

 
$
164,945

 
$
46,247

 
$
786,876

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

9. COMPONENTS OF WORKING CAPITAL

A summary of accounts receivable, net is as follows:
thousands
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Trade receivables, net
 
$
224,818

 
$
160,387

Other receivables, net
 
168

 
45

Total accounts receivable, net
 
$
224,986

 
$
160,432


A summary of other current assets is as follows:
thousands
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Natural gas liquids inventory
 
$
11,212

 
$
10,788

Imbalance receivables
 
3,829

 
1,640

Prepaid insurance
 
3,101

 
2,388

Contract assets
 
2,748

 

Other
 
5,080

 

Total other current assets
 
$
25,970

 
$
14,816



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

9. COMPONENTS OF WORKING CAPITAL (CONTINUED)

A summary of accrued liabilities is as follows:
thousands
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Accrued interest expense
 
$
54,546

 
$
40,632

Short-term asset retirement obligations  (1)
 
42,872

 
2,304

Short-term remediation and reclamation obligations
 
833

 
833

Income taxes payable
 
247

 
2,495

Contract liabilities
 
8,031

 

Other
 
7,757

 
1,635

Total accrued liabilities
 
$
114,286

 
$
47,899

                                                                                                                                                                                   
(1)  
As of September 30, 2018 , includes $40.2 million of short-term liabilities incurred during the second quarter of 2018 related to the shutdowns at the Third Creek and Kitty Draw gathering systems. See Note 1 for further information.

10. DEBT AND INTEREST EXPENSE

The following table presents the Partnership’s outstanding debt:
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
thousands
 
Principal
 
Carrying
Value
 
Fair
Value   (1)
 
Principal
 
Carrying
Value
 
Fair
Value (1)
2.600% Senior Notes due 2018
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
350,000

 
$
349,684

 
$
350,631

5.375% Senior Notes due 2021
 
500,000

 
496,669

 
517,160

 
500,000

 
495,815

 
530,647

4.000% Senior Notes due 2022
 
670,000

 
669,020

 
668,198

 
670,000

 
668,849

 
684,043

3.950% Senior Notes due 2025
 
500,000

 
492,596

 
478,470

 
500,000

 
491,885

 
500,885

4.650% Senior Notes due 2026
 
500,000

 
495,592

 
492,502

 
500,000

 
495,245

 
520,144

4.500% Senior Notes due 2028
 
400,000

 
394,514

 
384,964

 

 

 

4.750% Senior Notes due 2028
 
400,000

 
395,806

 
391,532

 

 

 

5.450% Senior Notes due 2044
 
600,000

 
593,319

 
565,485

 
600,000

 
593,234

 
637,827

5.300% Senior Notes due 2048
 
700,000

 
686,601

 
645,643

 

 

 

5.500% Senior Notes due 2048
 
350,000

 
342,347

 
331,981

 

 

 

RCF
 

 

 

 
370,000

 
370,000

 
370,000

Total long-term debt
 
$
4,620,000

 
$
4,566,464

 
$
4,475,935

 
$
3,490,000

 
$
3,464,712

 
$
3,594,177

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
Fair value is measured using the market approach and Level 2 inputs.


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

10. DEBT AND INTEREST EXPENSE (CONTINUED)

Debt activity. The following table presents the debt activity of the Partnership for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 :
thousands
 
Carrying Value
Balance at December 31, 2017
 
$
3,464,712

RCF borrowings
 
320,000

Issuance of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028
 
400,000

Issuance of 5.300% Senior Notes due 2048
 
700,000

Issuance of 4.750% Senior Notes due 2028
 
400,000

Issuance of 5.500% Senior Notes due 2048
 
350,000

Repayment of 2.600% Senior Notes due 2018
 
(350,000
)
Repayments of RCF borrowings
 
(690,000
)
Other
 
(28,248
)
Balance at September 30, 2018
 
$
4,566,464


Senior Notes. In August 2018, the 4.750% Senior Notes due 2028 and 5.500% Senior Notes due 2048 were offered to the public at prices of 99.818% and 98.912% , respectively, of the face amount. Including the effects of the issuance and underwriting discounts, the effective interest rates of the senior notes are 4.885% and 5.652% , respectively. Interest is paid on each such series semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning February 15, 2019. The net proceeds were used to repay the maturing 2.600% Senior Notes due August 2018, repay amounts outstanding under the senior unsecured revolving credit facility (“RCF”) and for general partnership purposes, including to fund capital expenditures.
In March 2018, the 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028 and 5.300% Senior Notes due 2048 were offered to the public at prices of 99.435% and 99.169% , respectively, of the face amount. Including the effects of the issuance and underwriting discounts, the effective interest rates of the senior notes are 4.682% and 5.431% , respectively. Interest is paid on each such series semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning September 1, 2018. The net proceeds were used to repay amounts outstanding under the RCF and for general partnership purposes, including to fund capital expenditures.
At September 30, 2018 , the Partnership was in compliance with all covenants under the indentures governing its outstanding notes.

Revolving credit facility. In February 2018, the Partnership entered into the five-year $1.5 billion RCF by amending and restating the $1.2 billion credit facility that was originally entered into in February 2014. The RCF is expandable to a maximum of $2.0 billion , matures in February 2023, with options to extend maturity by up to two additional one year increments, and bears interest at the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), plus applicable margins ranging from 1.00% to 1.50% , or an alternate base rate equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.50% , or (c) LIBOR plus 1.00% , in each case plus applicable margins currently ranging from zero to 0.50% , based upon the Partnership’s senior unsecured debt rating. The Partnership is required to pay a quarterly facility fee ranging from 0.125% to 0.250% of the commitment amount (whether used or unused), also based upon its senior unsecured debt rating.
As of September 30, 2018 , the Partnership had no outstanding borrowings and $4.6 million in outstanding letters of credit, resulting in $1,495.4 million available borrowing capacity under the RCF. As of September 30, 2018 and 2017 , the interest rate on any outstanding RCF borrowings was 3.56% and 2.54% , respectively. The facility fee rate was 0.20% at September 30, 2018 and 2017 . At September 30, 2018 , the Partnership was in compliance with all covenants under the RCF.

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

10. DEBT AND INTEREST EXPENSE (CONTINUED)

Interest expense. The following table summarizes the amounts included in interest expense:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Third parties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
 
$
(52,935
)
 
$
(35,992
)
 
$
(142,612
)
 
$
(105,772
)
Amortization of debt issuance costs and commitment fees
 
(2,023
)
 
(1,667
)
 
(6,083
)
 
(4,942
)
Capitalized interest
 
6,967

 
2,115

 
17,032

 
3,991

Total interest expense – third parties
 
(47,991
)
 
(35,544
)
 
(131,663
)
 
(106,723
)
Affiliates
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred purchase price obligation – Anadarko (1)
 

 

 

 
(71
)
Total interest expense – affiliates
 

 

 

 
(71
)
Interest expense
 
$
(47,991
)
 
$
(35,544
)
 
$
(131,663
)
 
$
(106,794
)
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
See Note 3 for a discussion of the Deferred purchase price obligation - Anadarko.

11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation and legal proceedings. In February 2017, DBJV, at the time a 50 / 50 joint venture between a third party and the Partnership, initiated an arbitration against SWEPI LP (“SWEPI”) for breach of a 2007 gas gathering agreement between it and DBJV (the “GGA”). Specifically, DBJV sought to collect certain gathering fees under the GGA for the period January 1, 2016 to July 1, 2017. SWEPI disputed DBJV’s calculation of the cost of service based rate and filed a counterclaim alleging overpayment of fees under the GGA for the years 2013 through 2015. As part of the adoption of Topic 606 (see Note 1 ), during the first quarter of 2018, the Partnership recorded a $7.5 million contract liability and reduced total equity and partners’ capital related to the counterclaim for the years 2013 through 2015 under the GGA revenue contract. The arbitration hearing concluded on June 27, 2018. On September 14, 2018, the panel issued a binding non-appealable decision awarding no damages to either DBJV or SWEPI. As such, during the third quarter of 2018, the previously recorded contract liability was reversed, resulting in a $7.5 million increase to Service revenues - fee based in the consolidated statements of operations.
In addition, from time to time, the Partnership is involved in legal, tax, regulatory and other proceedings in various forums regarding performance, contracts and other matters that arise in the ordinary course of business. Management is not aware of any such proceeding for which the final disposition could have a material adverse effect on the Partnership’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

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

Lease commitments. Anadarko, on behalf of the Partnership, has entered into lease arrangements for corporate offices, shared field offices and equipment supporting the Partnership’s operations, for which Anadarko charges the Partnership lease expense. The leases for the corporate offices and shared field offices extend through 2028 and 2033, respectively. Lease expense charged to the Partnership associated with these lease arrangements was $14.6 million and $40.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, and $12.0 million and $32.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively.


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

The following discussion analyzes our financial condition and results of operations and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, which are included under Part I , Item 1 of this quarterly report, as well as our historical consolidated financial statements, and the notes thereto, which are included under Part II, Item 8 of our 2017 Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on February 16, 2018.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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

our ability to pay distributions to our unitholders;

our and Anadarko’s assumptions about the energy market;

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

our operating results;

competitive conditions;

technology;

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

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

our ability to mitigate exposure to the commodity price risks inherent in our percent-of-proceeds, percent-of-product and keep-whole contracts through the extension of our commodity price swap agreements with Anadarko, or otherwise;

weather and natural disasters;

inflation;

the availability of goods and services;

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

federal, state and local laws, including those that limit Anadarko and other producers’ hydraulic fracturing or other oil and natural gas operations;


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environmental liabilities;

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

changes in the financial or operational condition of Anadarko;

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

changes in Anadarko’s capital program, strategy or desired areas of focus;

our commitments to capital projects;

our ability to use the RCF;

our ability to repay debt;

conflicts of interest among us, our general partner, WGP and its general partner, and affiliates, including Anadarko;

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

our ability to acquire assets on acceptable terms from Anadarko or third parties, and Anadarko’s ability to generate an inventory of assets suitable for acquisition;

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

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

the outcome of pending and future regulatory, legislative, or other proceedings or investigations, including the investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board related to Anadarko’s operations in Colorado, and continued or additional disruptions in operations that may occur as Anadarko and we comply with regulatory orders or other state or local changes in laws or regulations in Colorado; and

other factors discussed below, in “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Estimates” included in our 2017 Form 10-K, and in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and in our other public filings and press releases.

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


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

We are a growth-oriented Delaware MLP formed by Anadarko to acquire, own, develop and operate midstream assets. We currently own or have investments in assets located in the Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Utah and Wyoming), North-central Pennsylvania, Texas and New Mexico. We are engaged in the business of gathering, compressing, treating, processing and transporting natural gas; gathering, stabilizing and transporting condensate, NGLs and crude oil; and gathering and disposing of produced water. In addition, in our capacity as a processor of natural gas, we also buy and sell natural gas, NGLs and condensate on behalf of ourselves and as agent for our customers under certain of our contracts. We provide these midstream services for Anadarko, as well as for third-party producers and customers. As of September 30, 2018 , our assets and investments consisted of the following:
 
 
Owned and
Operated
 
Operated
Interests
 
Non-Operated
Interests
 
Equity
Interests
Gathering systems (1)
 
12

 
3

 
3

 
2

Treating facilities
 
19

 
3

 

 
3

Natural gas processing plants/trains
 
20

 
4

 

 
2

NGL pipelines
 
2

 

 

 
3

Natural gas pipelines
 
5

 

 

 

Oil pipelines
 

 
1

 

 
2

                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
Includes the DBM water systems.

Significant financial and operational events during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , included the following:

In August 2018, we completed an offering of $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.750% Senior Notes due 2028 and $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.500% Senior Notes due 2048. The net proceeds were used to repay the maturing 2.600% Senior Notes due August 2018, repay amounts outstanding under the RCF and for general partnership purposes, including to fund capital expenditures. See Liquidity and Capital Resources within this Item 2 for additional information.

In June 2018, we acquired a 20% interest in Whitethorn and a 15% interest in Cactus II, both from third parties. See Acquisitions and Divestitures below for additional information.

In March 2018, we completed an offering of $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028 and $700.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.300% Senior Notes due 2048. The net proceeds were used to repay amounts outstanding under the RCF and for general partnership purposes, including to fund capital expenditures. See Liquidity and Capital Resources within this Item 2 for additional information.

In February 2018, we entered into the five-year $1.5 billion (expandable to $2.0 billion) RCF by amending and restating the $1.2 billion credit facility originally entered into in February 2014. See Liquidity and Capital Resources within this Item 2 for additional information.

We raised our distribution to $0.965 per unit for the third quarter of 2018 , representing a 2% increase over the distribution for the second quarter of 2018 and a 7% increase over the distribution for the third quarter of 2017 .

Throughput attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP for natural gas assets totaled 3,850 MMcf/d and 3,758 MMcf/d for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, representing a 12% and 4% increase , respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017.


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Throughput for crude oil, NGL and produced water assets totaled 421 MBbls/d and 341 MBbls/d for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, representing a 101% and 82% increase , respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017.

Operating income (loss) was $200.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , representing a 12% increase compared to the same period in 2017. Operating income (loss) was $463.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , representing a 12% decrease compared to the same period in 2017.

Adjusted gross margin for natural gas assets (as defined under the caption Key Performance Metrics within this Item 2 ) averaged $1.03 per Mcf and $0.99 per Mcf for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, representing a 6% and 8% increase , respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017.

Adjusted gross margin for crude oil, NGL and produced water assets (as defined under the caption Key Performance Metrics within this Item 2 ) averaged $1.76 per Bbl and $1.71 per Bbl for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, representing a 13% and 17% decrease , respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017.

Colorado ballot initiative. The Colorado general election ballot in November 2018 includes Proposition 112, which, if passed, would amend the Colorado Revised Statutes to require that certain new oil and gas development on non-federal lands take place a minimum distance of 2,500 feet from occupied buildings such as homes, schools, and hospitals, and other areas designated as vulnerable. Such setbacks would effectively ban new oil and gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing on a substantial portion of Colorado’s non-federal lands. If Proposition 112 passes, and is not amended or repealed by the state legislature, demand for our midstream services in Colorado is expected to be significantly reduced. If this occurs, we anticipate reallocating capital away from Colorado in order to serve Anadarko’s revised U.S. onshore production plans, which we expect would focus on the Delaware Basin and the acceleration of emerging opportunities in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin.
 
Significant item affecting comparability. On January 1, 2018, we adopted Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“Topic 606”). The comparative historical financial information has not been adjusted and continues to be reported under Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) . The following tables summarize the impact of adopting Topic 606 on the consolidated statements of operations:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30, 2018
thousands
 
As Reported
 
Without Adoption of Topic 606
 
Effect of Change
Increase / (Decrease)
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service revenues – fee based
 
$
409,106

 
$
396,161

 
$
12,945

Service revenues – product based
 
22,735

 

 
22,735

Product sales
 
75,150

 
366,603

 
(291,453
)
Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of product
 
105,966

 
353,641

 
(247,675
)
Operation and maintenance
 
111,359

 
111,327

 
32

Depreciation and amortization
 
82,553

 
81,824

 
729

Income tax (benefit) expense
 
1,517

 
1,580

 
(63
)
 

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Nine Months Ended 
 September 30, 2018
thousands
 
As Reported
 
Without Adoption of Topic 606
 
Effect of Change
Increase / (Decrease)
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service revenues – fee based
 
$
1,146,099

 
$
1,096,708

 
$
49,391

Service revenues – product based
 
67,433

 

 
67,433

Product sales
 
217,738

 
978,127

 
(760,389
)
Expenses
 
 
 
 
 


Cost of product
 
303,518

 
940,936

 
(637,418
)
Operation and maintenance
 
300,266

 
300,098

 
168

Depreciation and amortization
 
238,187

 
236,102

 
2,085

Impairments
 
152,708

 
152,663

 
45

Income tax (benefit) expense
 
3,301

 
3,361

 
(60
)
 

For more information on the adoption of Topic 606, see Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q .

ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

Whitethorn LLC acquisition. In June 2018, we acquired a 20% interest in Whitethorn LLC, which owns a crude oil and condensate pipeline that originates in Midland, Texas and terminates in Sealy, Texas (the “Midland-to-Sealy pipeline”) and related storage facilities (collectively referred to as “Whitethorn”). A third party operates Whitethorn and oversees the related commercial activities. In connection with our investment in Whitethorn, we will share proportionally in the commercial activities. We acquired our 20% interest via a $150.6 million net investment, which was funded with cash on hand and is accounted for under the equity method. See Note 3—Acquisitions and Divestitures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q .

Cactus II acquisition. In June 2018, we acquired a 15% interest in Cactus II, which will own a crude oil pipeline operated by a third party (the “Cactus II pipeline”) connecting West Texas to the Corpus Christi area. The Cactus II pipeline is under construction and expected to become operational in the fourth quarter of 2019. We acquired our 15% interest from a third party via an initial net investment of $11.3 million , which represented our share of costs incurred up to the date of acquisition. The initial investment was funded with cash on hand and the interest in Cactus II is accounted for under the equity method. See Note 3—Acquisitions and Divestitures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q .

Property exchange. On March 17, 2017, we acquired the Additional DBJV System Interest from a third party in exchange for the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest and $155.0 million of cash consideration. We previously held a 50% interest in, and operated, the DBJV system. The Property Exchange resulted in a net gain of $125.7 million recorded as Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations. See  Note 3—Acquisitions and Divestitures  in the  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements  under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Divestitures. During the second quarter of 2017, the Helper and Clawson systems, located in Utah, were sold to a third party, resulting in a net gain on sale of $16.3 million recorded as Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations.


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Presentation of Partnership assets.   The term “Partnership assets” includes both the assets owned and the interests accounted for under the equity method by us as of September 30, 2018 (see Note 8—Equity Investments in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q ). Because Anadarko controls us through its control of WGP, which owns the entire interest in our general partner, each acquisition of Partnership assets from Anadarko has been considered a transfer of net assets between entities under common control. As such, the Partnership assets we acquired from Anadarko were initially recorded at Anadarko’s historic carrying value, which did not correlate to the total acquisition price paid by us. Further, after an acquisition of Partnership assets from Anadarko, we may be required to recast our financial statements to include the activities of such Partnership assets from the date of common control.
For those periods requiring recast, the consolidated financial statements for periods prior to our acquisition of the Partnership assets from Anadarko have been prepared from Anadarko’s historical cost-basis accounts and may not necessarily be indicative of the actual results of operations that would have occurred if we had owned the Partnership assets during the periods reported. For ease of reference, we refer to the historical financial results of the Partnership assets prior to our acquisitions from Anadarko as being “our” historical financial results.

EQUITY OFFERINGS

Series A Preferred units. In 2016, we issued 21,922,831 Series A Preferred units to private investors. Pursuant to an agreement between us and the holders of the Series A Preferred units, 50% of the Series A Preferred units converted into common units on a one-for-one basis on March 1, 2017, and all remaining Series A Preferred units converted into common units on a one-for-one basis on May 2, 2017. See Note 5—Equity and Partners’ Capital in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q .


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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OPERATING RESULTS

The following tables and discussion present a summary of our results of operations:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Total revenues and other   (1)
 
$
507,762

 
$
574,695

 
$
1,432,483

 
$
1,616,338

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
43,110

 
21,519

 
102,752

 
62,708

Total operating expenses   (1)
 
350,616

 
416,830

 
1,072,403

 
1,318,489

Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net
 
65

 
72

 
351

 
135,017

Proceeds from business interruption insurance claims (2)
 

 

 

 
29,882

Operating income (loss)
 
200,321

 
179,456

 
463,183

 
525,456

Interest income – affiliates
 
4,225

 
4,225

 
12,675

 
12,675

Interest expense
 
(47,991
)
 
(35,544
)
 
(131,663
)
 
(106,794
)
Other income (expense), net
 
598

 
286

 
2,609

 
969

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
157,153

 
148,423

 
346,804

 
432,306

Income tax (benefit) expense
 
1,517

 
510

 
3,301

 
4,905

Net income (loss)
 
155,636

 
147,913

 
343,503

 
427,401

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
990

 
4,407

 
6,786

 
8,555

Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP
 
$
154,646

 
$
143,506

 
$
336,717

 
$
418,846

Key performance metrics   (3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted gross margin
 
$
431,561

 
$
344,416

 
$
1,178,400

 
$
1,009,520

Adjusted EBITDA
 
314,522

 
257,835

 
858,300

 
787,664

Distributable cash flow
 
248,156

 
231,859

 
701,391

 
695,587

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

For purposes of the following discussion, any increases or decreases “for the three months ended September 30, 2018 ” refer to the comparison of the three months ended September 30, 2018 , to the three months ended September 30, 2017 ; any increases or decreases “for the  nine months ended September 30, 2018 ” refer to the comparison of the  nine months ended September 30, 2018 , to the  nine months ended September 30, 2017 ; and any increases or decreases “for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 ” refer to the comparison of these 2018 periods to the corresponding three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2017 .



39

Table of Contents

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

 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Throughput for natural gas assets (MMcf/d)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gathering, treating and transportation
 
954

 
784

 
22
 %
 
886

 
1,029

 
(14
)%
Processing
 
2,844

 
2,588

 
10
 %
 
2,820

 
2,528

 
12
 %
Equity investment (1)
 
139

 
159

 
(13
)%
 
144

 
160

 
(10
)%
Total throughput for natural gas assets
 
3,937

 
3,531

 
11
 %
 
3,850

 
3,717

 
4
 %
Throughput attributable to noncontrolling interest for natural gas assets
 
87

 
104

 
(16
)%
 
92

 
107

 
(14
)%
Total throughput attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP for natural gas assets
 
3,850

 
3,427

 
12
 %
 
3,758

 
3,610

 
4
 %
Throughput for crude oil, NGL and produced water assets (MBbls/d)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gathering, treating, transportation and disposal
 
154

 
77

 
100
 %
 
141

 
57

 
147
 %
Equity investment (2)
 
267

 
132

 
102
 %
 
200

 
130

 
54
 %
Total throughput for crude oil, NGL and produced water assets
 
421

 
209

 
101
 %
 
341

 
187

 
82
 %
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
Represents our 14.81% share of average Fort Union throughput and 22% share of average Rendezvous throughput.
(2)  
Represents our 10% share of average White Cliffs throughput, 25% share of average Mont Belvieu JV throughput, 20% share of average TEG and TEP throughput, 33.33% share of average FRP throughput and 20% share of average Whitethorn throughput.

Natural gas assets

Gathering, treating and transportation throughput increase d by 170 MMcf/d for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to (i) increased production in the areas around the DBJV system (increase of 135 MMcf/d), (ii) increased throughput at the Bison facility due to a new contract effective April 2018 (increase of 36 MMcf/d) and (iii) increased production in the areas around the Marcellus Interest systems in 2018 and curtailments in the third quarter of 2017 (increase of 32 MMcf/d). These increases were partially offset by lower throughput at the Springfield gas gathering system due to weather-related well shut-ins (decrease of 28 MMcf/d).
Gathering, treating and transportation throughput decrease d by 143 MMcf/d for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to the Property Exchange in March 2017 (decrease of 114 MMcf/d) and the sale of the Helper and Clawson systems in June 2017 (decrease of 22 MMcf/d).
Processing throughput increase d by 256 MMcf/d and 292  MMcf/d for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, primarily due to increased production in the areas around the DJ Basin and DBM complexes and the start-up of Train VI at the DBM complex in December 2017. In addition, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, processing throughput increased at the MGR assets due to downtime in 2017. These increases were partially offset by lower throughput at the Chipeta complex due to downstream fractionation capacity constraints in the third quarter of 2018 and the expiration and non-renewal of a contract in September 2017.
Equity investment throughput decrease d by 20 MMcf/d and 16 MMcf/d for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, primarily due to decreased throughput at the Fort Union and Rendezvous systems due to production declines in the area, as well as throughput being diverted from the Fort Union system to other nearby systems.


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Table of Contents

Crude oil, NGL and produced water assets

Gathering, treating, transportation and disposal throughput increase d by 77 MBbls/d and 84 MBbls/d for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, primarily due to increased throughput from the DBM water systems, which commenced operation during the second quarter of 2017.
Equity investment throughput increase d by 135 MBbls/d and 70 MBbls/d for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, primarily due to (i) the acquisition of the interest in Whitethorn in June 2018 and (ii) increased volumes on FRP and TEP as a result of increased NGL production in the DJ Basin area.

Service Revenues
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Service revenues – fee based
 
$
409,106

 
$
306,187

 
34
%
 
$
1,146,099

 
$
913,436

 
25
%
Service revenues – product based
 
22,735

 

 
NM

 
67,433

 

 
NM

 Total service revenues
 
$
431,841

 
$
306,187

 
41
%
 
$
1,213,532

 
$
913,436

 
33
%
                                                                                                                                                                                    
NM-Not Meaningful

Service revenues – fee based increase d by $102.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to increases of (i) $12.9 million from the adoption of Topic 606 as discussed under Significant item affecting comparability within this Item 2 , (ii) $33.5 million at the DJ Basin complex due to increased throughput ($27.9 million) and a higher processing fee ($5.6 million) due to a new contract effective August 2017 and (iii) $22.3 million and $21.9 million at the DBJV system and DBM complex, respectively, due to increased throughput.
Service revenues – fee based increase d by $232.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to increases of (i) $49.4 million from the adoption of Topic 606 as discussed under Significant item affecting comparability within this Item 2 , (ii) $95.5 million at the DJ Basin complex due to increased throughput ($70.5 million) and a higher processing fee ($25.0 million) due to a new contract effective August 2017, (iii) $55.8 million at the DBM complex due to increased throughput, (iv) $20.9 million at the DBM water systems, which commenced operation during the second quarter of 2017 and (v) $18.5 million due to the Property Exchange in March 2017. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $9.6 million at the Springfield system due to a lower cost of service rate.
Service revenues – product based increase d by $22.7 million and $67.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, due to the adoption of Topic 606 as discussed under Significant item affecting comparability within this Item 2 . Under Topic 606, certain of our customer agreements result in revenues being recognized when the natural gas and/or NGLs are received from the customer as noncash consideration for the services provided. In addition, retained proceeds from sales of customer products where we are acting as their agent are included in Service revenues – product based.


41

Table of Contents

Product Sales
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages and
per-unit amounts
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Natural gas sales (1)
 
$
20,686

 
$
100,395

 
(79
)%
 
$
62,403

 
$
273,256

 
(77
)%
NGL sales (1)
 
54,464

 
158,746

 
(66
)%
 
155,335

 
417,234

 
(63
)%
Total Product sales
 
$
75,150

 
$
259,141

 
(71
)%
 
$
217,738

 
$
690,490

 
(68
)%
Gross average sales price per unit (1) :
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Natural gas (per Mcf)
 
$
2.01

 
$
2.89

 
(30
)%
 
$
2.15

 
$
2.96

 
(27
)%
Natural gas liquids (per Bbl)
 
34.43

 
22.99

 
50
 %
 
32.09

 
21.63

 
48
 %
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
Includes the effects of commodity price swap agreements for the MGR assets and DJ Basin complex, excluding the amounts considered above market with respect to these swap agreements that were recorded as capital contributions in the consolidated statement of equity and partners’ capital. See Note 6—Transactions with Affiliates in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q .

Natural gas sales decrease d by $79.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to decreases of (i) $62.4 million from the adoption of Topic 606 as discussed under Significant item affecting comparability within this Item 2 , (ii) $8.0 million at the DBM complex due to a decrease in average price, partially offset by an increase in volumes sold and (iii) $4.6 million at the DJ Basin complex due to a decrease in the swap market price, partially offset by an increase in volumes sold.
Natural gas sales decrease d by $210.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to decreases of (i) $184.5 million from the adoption of Topic 606 as discussed under Significant item affecting comparability within this Item 2 and (ii) $7.4 million due to a decrease in average price and $9.3 million due to a system shutdown, both at the Hilight system (see Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q ).
NGL sales decrease d by $104.3 million and $261.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, primarily due to decreases of $229.1 million and $575.9 million, respectively, from the adoption of Topic 606 as discussed under Significant item affecting comparability within this Item 2 . These decreases were partially offset by increases of (i) $90.6 million and $227.9 million, respectively, at the DBM complex due to an increase in average price and volumes sold, (ii) $14.7 million and $39.1 million, respectively, at the DJ Basin complex due to an increase in the swap market price and volumes sold, (iii) $5.7 million and $15.0 million, respectively, at the Brasada complex due to volumes sold under a new sales agreement beginning January 1, 2018, and (iv) $3.8 million and $5.4 million, respectively, at the Hilight system due to an increase in average price. In addition, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , NGL sales increased by (i) $6.7 million at the DBM water systems, which commenced operation during the second quarter of 2017 and (ii) $6.2 million at the Chipeta complex due to an increase in average price.


42

Table of Contents

Other Revenues
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Other revenues
 
$
771

 
$
9,367

 
(92
)%
 
$
1,213

 
$
12,412

 
(90
)%

Other revenu es decrease d by $8.6 million and $11.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, primarily due to deficiency fees at the Chipeta complex in 2017. Upon adoption of Topic 606 on January 1, 2018, deficiency fees are recorded as Service revenues – fee based in the consolidated statements of operations (see Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q ).

Equity Income, Net – Affiliates

 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Equity income, net – affiliates
 
$
43,110

 
$
21,519

 
100
%
 
$
102,752

 
$
62,708

 
64
%

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , Equity income, net – affiliates increase d by $21.6 million and $40.0 million , respectively, primarily due to (i) the acquisition of the interest in Whitethorn in June 2018 and (ii) increased volumes at the TEFR Interests. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in volumes at the Fort Union system.


43

Table of Contents

Cost of Product and Operation and Maintenance Expenses
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
NGL purchases (1)
 
$
75,705

 
$
136,636

 
(45
)%
 
$
211,816

 
$
359,616

 
(41
)%
Residue purchases (1)
 
25,389

 
90,264

 
(72
)%
 
72,461

 
256,387

 
(72
)%
Other
 
4,872

 
12,323

 
(60
)%
 
19,241

 
15,856

 
21
 %
Cost of product
 
105,966

 
239,223

 
(56
)%
 
303,518

 
631,859

 
(52
)%
Operation and maintenance
 
111,359

 
79,536

 
40
 %
 
300,266

 
229,444

 
31
 %
Total Cost of product and Operation and maintenance expenses
 
$
217,325

 
$
318,759

 
(32
)%
 
$
603,784

 
$
861,303

 
(30
)%
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , includes the effects of commodity price swap agreements for the MGR assets and DJ Basin complex, excluding the amounts considered above market with respect to these swap agreements that were recorded as capital contributions in the consolidated statement of equity and partners’ capital. See Note 6—Transactions with Affiliates in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q .

NGL purchases decrease d by $60.9 million and $147.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, primarily due to decreases of $191.2 million and $458.6 million, respectively, from the adoption of Topic 606 as discussed under Significant item affecting comparability within this Item 2 , partially offset by increases of (i) $97.9 million and $231.4 million, respectively, at the DBM complex due to an increase in average price and volumes purchased, (ii) $14.8 million and $41.2 million, respectively, at the DJ Basin complex due to an increase in average price and volumes purchased, (iii) $5.3 million and $13.5 million, respectively, at the Brasada complex due to volumes purchased under a new purchase agreement beginning January 1, 2018, (iv) $3.7 million and $6.1 million, respectively, at the Hilight system due to an increase in average price, and (v) $2.7 million and $6.6 million, respectively, at the DBM water systems, which commenced operation during the second quarter of 2017.
Residue purchases decrease d by $64.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to decreases of (i) $56.1 million from the adoption of Topic 606 as discussed under Significant item affecting comparability within this Item 2 , (ii) $2.8 million at the DBM complex due to a decrease in average price, partially offset by an increase in volumes purchased, and (iii) $2.8 million at the MGR assets due to a decrease in average price.
Residue purchases decrease d by $183.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to decreases of (i) $172.1 million from the adoption of Topic 606 as discussed under Significant item affecting comparability within this Item 2 , (ii) $5.9 million at the Hilight system due to a decrease in average price, and (iii) $5.8 million at the MGR assets due to a decrease in average price.
Other items decrease d by $7.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to a decrease of $11.6 million from changes in imbalance positions primarily at the DBM complex, partially offset by an increase of $3.8 million at the DJ Basin complex due to changes in affiliate contract terms in August 2017.
Other items increase d by $3.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to an increase of $19.0 million at the DJ Basin complex due to changes in affiliate contract terms in August 2017, partially offset by decreases of (i) $9.3 million from changes in imbalance positions primarily at the DBM complex and (ii) $6.7 million from the adoption of Topic 606 as discussed under Significant item affecting comparability within this Item 2 .
Operation and maintenance expense increase d by $31.8 million and $70.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, primarily due to increases of (i) $10.3 million and $23.2 million, respectively, at the DBM complex primarily due to increases in utilities expense, surface maintenance and plant repairs, equipment rentals, and salaries and wages, (ii) $8.1 million and $21.2 million, respectively, at the DJ Basin complex primarily due to increases in surface maintenance and plant repairs and utilities expense, (iii) $7.2 million and $18.3 million, respectively, at the DBJV system primarily due to increases in surface maintenance and plant repairs, salaries and wages, and equipment rentals, and (iv) $1.9 million and $4.5 million, respectively, at the DBM water systems, which commenced operation during the second quarter of 2017.


44

Table of Contents

Other Operating Expenses

 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
General and administrative
 
$
14,467

 
$
12,158

 
19
 %
 
$
42,634

 
$
35,402

 
20
 %
Property and other taxes
 
10,954

 
11,215

 
(2
)%
 
35,090

 
35,433

 
(1
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
82,553

 
72,539

 
14
 %
 
238,187

 
216,272

 
10
 %
Impairments
 
25,317

 
2,159

 
NM

 
152,708

 
170,079

 
(10
)%
Total other operating expenses
 
$
133,291

 
$
98,071

 
36
 %
 
$
468,619

 
$
457,186

 
3
 %

General and administrative expenses increase d by $2.3 million and $7.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, primarily due to (i) personnel costs for which we reimbursed Anadarko pursuant to our omnibus agreement and (ii) legal and consulting fees incurred in 2018. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, these increases were partially offset by a decrease in bad debt expense.
Depreciation and amortization expense increase d by $10.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to depreciation expense increases of $4.2 million and $3.0 million related to capital projects being placed into service at the DBJV system and the DBM complex, respectively.
Depreciation and amortization expense increase d by $21.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to (i) $12.3 million due to the Property Exchange in March 2017 and capital projects being placed into service at the DBJV system and (ii) $6.8 million related to capital projects being placed into service at the DBM complex.
Impairment expense for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , was primarily due to impairments of (i) $10.9 million at the GNB NGL pipeline, (ii) $5.6 million at the Chipeta complex, (iii) $5.1 million at the Third Creek gathering system and (iv) $1.7 million at the Kitty Draw gathering system.
Impairment expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , was primarily due to impairments of (i) $125.9 million at the Third Creek gathering system and $8.1 million at the Kitty Draw gathering system (see Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q ), (ii) $10.9 million at the GNB NGL pipeline and (iii) $5.6 million at the Chipeta complex.
Impairment expense for the three months ended September 30, 2017, was primarily due to a $2.0 million impairment of an idle facility in northeast Wyoming.
Impairment expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, included (i) a $158.8 million impairment at the Granger complex, (ii) a $3.7 million impairment at the Granger straddle plant, (iii) a $3.1 million impairment at the Fort Union system, (iv) a $2.0 million impairment of an idle facility in northeast Wyoming and (v) the cancellation of a pipeline project in West Texas. For further information on impairment expense for the periods presented, see Note 7—Property, Plant and Equipment in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q .


45

Table of Contents

Interest Income – Affiliates and Interest Expense

 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Note receivable – Anadarko
 
$
4,225

 
$
4,225

 
%
 
$
12,675

 
$
12,675

 
 %
Interest income – affiliates
 
$
4,225

 
$
4,225

 
%
 
$
12,675

 
$
12,675

 
 %
Third parties
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
 
$
(52,935
)
 
$
(35,992
)
 
47
%
 
$
(142,612
)
 
$
(105,772
)
 
35
 %
Amortization of debt issuance costs and commitment fees
 
(2,023
)
 
(1,667
)
 
21
%
 
(6,083
)
 
(4,942
)
 
23
 %
Capitalized interest
 
6,967

 
2,115

 
NM

 
17,032

 
3,991

 
NM

Affiliates
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred purchase price obligation – Anadarko (1)
 

 

 
%
 

 
(71
)
 
(100
)%
Interest expense
 
$
(47,991
)
 
$
(35,544
)
 
35
%
 
$
(131,663
)
 
$
(106,794
)
 
23
 %
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
See Note 3—Acquisitions and Divestitures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for a discussion of the Deferred purchase price obligation - Anadarko.

Interest expense increase d by $12.4 million and $24.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, primarily due to (i) $13.8 million and $32.0 million, respectively, of interest incurred on the 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028 and 5.300% Senior Notes due 2048 that were issued in March 2018 and (ii) $5.5 million of interest incurred on the 4.750% Senior Notes due 2028 and 5.500% Senior Notes due 2048 that were issued in August 2018. These increases were partially offset by increases in capitalized interest of $4.9 million and $13.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, primarily due to continued construction and expansion at (i) the DJ Basin complex, including construction of the Latham processing plant beginning in 2018, (ii) the DBJV system, and (iii) the DBM complex, including construction of the Mentone processing plant beginning in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Income Tax (Benefit) Expense

 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Income (loss) before income taxes
 
$
157,153

 
$
148,423

 
6
%
 
$
346,804

 
$
432,306

 
(20
)%
Income tax (benefit) expense
 
1,517

 
510

 
197
%
 
3,301

 
4,905

 
(33
)%
Effective tax rate
 
1
%
 
%
 


 
1
%
 
1
%
 



We are not a taxable entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, our income apportionable to Texas is subject to Texas margin tax. For all periods presented, the variance from the federal statutory rate, which is zero percent as a non-taxable entity, was primarily due to our share of Texas margin tax.


46

Table of Contents

KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except percentages and per-unit amounts
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
 
2018
 
2017
 
Inc/
(Dec)
Adjusted gross margin for natural gas assets (1)
 
$
363,536

 
$
305,337

 
19
 %
 
$
1,019,061

 
$
904,620

 
13
 %
Adjusted gross margin for crude oil, NGL and produced water assets (2)
 
68,025

 
39,079

 
74
 %
 
159,339

 
104,900

 
52
 %
Adjusted gross margin (3)
 
431,561

 
344,416

 
25
 %
 
1,178,400

 
1,009,520

 
17
 %
Adjusted gross margin per Mcf for natural gas assets (4)
 
1.03

 
0.97

 
6
 %
 
0.99

 
0.92

 
8
 %
Adjusted gross margin per Bbl for crude oil, NGL and produced water assets (5)
 
1.76

 
2.03

 
(13
)%
 
1.71

 
2.05

 
(17
)%
Adjusted EBITDA (3)
 
314,522

 
257,835

 
22
 %
 
858,300

 
787,664

 
9
 %
Distributable cash flow (3)
 
248,156

 
231,859

 
7
 %
 
701,391

 
695,587

 
1
 %
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
Adjusted gross margin for natural gas assets is calculated as total revenues and other for natural gas assets (less reimbursements for electricity-related expenses recorded as revenue), less cost of product for natural gas assets, plus distributions from our equity investments in Fort Union and Rendezvous, and excluding the noncontrolling interest owner’s proportionate share of revenue and cost of product. See the reconciliation of Adjusted gross margin for natural gas assets to its most comparable GAAP measure below.
(2)  
Adjusted gross margin for crude oil, NGL and produced water assets is calculated as total revenues and other for crude oil, NGL and produced water assets (less reimbursements for electricity-related expenses recorded as revenue), less cost of product for crude oil, NGL and produced water assets, and plus distributions from our equity investments in White Cliffs, the Mont Belvieu JV, the TEFR Interests and Whitethorn. See the reconciliation of Adjusted gross margin for crude oil, NGL and produced water assets to its most comparable GAAP measure below.
(3)  
For a reconciliation of Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, see the description below.
(4)  
Average for period. Calculated as Adjusted gross margin for natural gas assets, divided by total throughput (MMcf/d) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP for natural gas assets.
(5)  
Average for period. Calculated as Adjusted gross margin for crude oil, NGL and produced water assets, divided by total throughput (MBbls/d) for crude oil, NGL and produced water assets.

Adjusted gross margin. We define Adjusted gross margin attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP (“Adjusted gross margin”) as total revenues and other (less reimbursements for electricity-related expenses recorded as revenue), less cost of product, plus distributions from equity investments, and excluding the noncontrolling interest owner’s proportionate share of revenue and cost of product. We believe Adjusted gross margin is an important performance measure of the core profitability of our operations, as well as our operating performance as compared to that of other companies in the midstream industry.
Adjusted gross margin increase d by $87.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to (i) increased throughput and a higher processing fee at the DJ Basin complex, (ii) increased throughput at the DBM complex and DBJV and DBM water systems, and (iii) the acquisition of the interest in Whitethorn in June 2018. These increases were partially offset by decreases due to (i) the treatment of deficiency fees under Topic 606 related to the Chipeta complex (see Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q ) and (ii) a lower cost of service rate at the Springfield system.
Adjusted gross margin increase d by $168.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to (i) increased throughput and a higher processing fee at the DJ Basin complex, (ii) increased throughput at the DBM complex, (iii) the start-up of the DBM water systems during the second quarter of 2017, (iv) the Property Exchange in March 2017 and (v) the acquisition of the interest in Whitethorn in June 2018. These increases were partially offset by decreases due to (i) a lower cost of service rate at the Springfield system and (ii) a system shutdown at the Hilight system (see Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q ).


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To facilitate investor and industry analyst comparisons between us and our peers, we also disclose Adjusted gross margin per Mcf for natural gas assets and Adjusted gross margin per Bbl for crude oil, NGL and produced water assets . Adjusted gross margin per Mcf for natural gas assets increase d by $0.06 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to increased throughput at the DBM complex and DBJV system. Adjusted gross margin per Mcf for natural gas assets increase d by $0.07 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to (i) increased throughput at the DBM complex, which has a higher-than-average margin as compared to our other natural gas assets and (ii) the Property Exchange in March 2017.
Adjusted gross margin per Bbl for crude oil, NGL and produced water assets decrease d by $0.27 and $0.34 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, primarily due to (i) increased throughput at the DBM water systems, which have lower margins than our crude oil and NGL assets, and (ii) a lower cost of service rate at the Springfield oil gathering system. These decreases were partially offset by (i) higher distributions received from the TEFR Interests and the Mont Belvieu JV, and (ii) the acquisition of the interest in Whitethorn in June 2018.

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

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

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

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

Adjusted EBITDA increase d by $56.7 million and $70.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively, primarily due to (i) decrease s of $133.3 million and $328.4 million , respectively, in cost of product (net of lower of cost or market inventory adjustments) and (ii) increase s of $21.9 million and $31.4 million , respectively, in distributions from equity investments. These amounts were partially offset by (i) decrease s of $66.9 million and $183.9 million , respectively, in total revenues and other, (ii) increase s of $31.8 million and $70.8 million , respectively, in operation and maintenance expenses, and (iii) increase s of $2.0 million and $5.2 million , respectively, in general and administrative expenses excluding non-cash equity-based compensation expense. The amounts for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , were also partially offset by a $29.9 million decrease in business interruption proceeds.

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Distributable cash flow. We define “Distributable cash flow” as Adjusted EBITDA, plus interest income and the net settlement amounts from the sale and/or purchase of natural gas, condensate and NGLs under our commodity price swap agreements to the extent such amounts are not recognized as Adjusted EBITDA, less Service revenues – fee based recognized in Adjusted EBITDA (less than) in excess of customer billings, net cash paid (or to be paid) for interest expense (including amortization of deferred debt issuance costs originally paid in cash, offset by non-cash capitalized interest), maintenance capital expenditures, Series A Preferred unit distributions and income taxes. We compare Distributable cash flow to the cash distributions we expect to pay our unitholders. Using this measure, management can quickly compute the Coverage ratio of Distributable cash flow to planned cash distributions. We believe Distributable cash flow is useful to investors because this measurement is used by many companies, analysts and others in the industry as a performance measurement tool to evaluate our operating and financial performance and compare it with the performance of other publicly traded partnerships.
While Distributable cash flow is a measure we use to assess our ability to make distributions to our unitholders, it should not be viewed as indicative of the actual amount of cash that we have available for distributions or that we plan to distribute for a given period. Furthermore, to the extent Distributable cash flow includes realized amounts recorded as capital contributions from Anadarko attributable to activity under our commodity price swap agreements, it is not a reflection of our ability to generate cash from operations.
Distributable cash flow increase d by $16.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to a $56.7 million increase in Adjusted EBITDA, partially offset by (i) a $17.3 million increase in net cash paid for interest expense, (ii) a $13.2 million increase in cash paid for maintenance capital expenditures, (iii) a $5.4 million decrease in the above-market component of the swap agreements with Anadarko, and (iv) $4.4 million of customer billings less than the amount recognized as Service revenues - fee based.
Distributable cash flow increase d by $5.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to (i) a $70.6 million increase in Adjusted EBITDA and (ii) a $7.5 million decrease in Series A Preferred unit distributions. These amounts were partially offset by (i) a $38.0 million increase in net cash paid for interest expense, (ii) a $28.0 million increase in cash paid for maintenance capital expenditures, and (iii) a $6.0 million decrease in the above-market component of the swap agreements with Anadarko.

Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures. Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow are not defined in GAAP. The GAAP measure used by us that is most directly comparable to Adjusted gross margin is operating income (loss), while net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP and net cash provided by operating activities are the GAAP measures used by us that are most directly comparable to Adjusted EBITDA. The GAAP measure used by us that is most directly comparable to Distributable cash flow is net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP. Our non-GAAP financial measures of Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow should not be considered as alternatives to the GAAP measures of operating income (loss), net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP, net cash provided by operating activities or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow have important limitations as analytical tools because they exclude some, but not all, items that affect operating income (loss), net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP and net cash provided by operating activities. Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Our definitions of Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies in our industry, thereby diminishing their utility.

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Management compensates for the limitations of Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow as analytical tools by reviewing the comparable GAAP measures, understanding the differences between Adjusted gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable cash flow compared to (as applicable) operating income (loss), net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP and net cash provided by operating activities, and incorporating this knowledge into its decision-making processes. We believe that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures that our management uses in evaluating our operating results.
The following tables present (a) a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of operating income (loss) to the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted gross margin, (b) a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measures of net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP and net cash provided by operating activities to the non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA and (c) a reconciliation of the GAAP financial measure of net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP to the non-GAAP financial measure of Distributable cash flow:
 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Reconciliation of Operating income (loss) to Adjusted gross margin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income (loss)
 
$
200,321

 
$
179,456


$
463,183


$
525,456

Add:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distributions from equity investments
 
51,023

 
29,145

 
111,924

 
80,568

Operation and maintenance
 
111,359

 
79,536

 
300,266

 
229,444

General and administrative
 
14,467

 
12,158

 
42,634

 
35,402

Property and other taxes
 
10,954

 
11,215

 
35,090

 
35,433

Depreciation and amortization
 
82,553

 
72,539

 
238,187

 
216,272

Impairments
 
25,317

 
2,159

 
152,708

 
170,079

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net
 
65

 
72

 
351

 
135,017

Proceeds from business interruption insurance claims
 

 

 

 
29,882

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
43,110

 
21,519

 
102,752

 
62,708

Reimbursed electricity-related charges recorded as revenues
 
17,455

 
14,323

 
50,139

 
42,338

Adjusted gross margin attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
3,803

 
5,878

 
12,350

 
13,189

Adjusted gross margin
 
$
431,561

 
$
344,416

 
$
1,178,400

 
$
1,009,520

Adjusted gross margin for natural gas assets
 
$
363,536

 
$
305,337

 
$
1,019,061

 
$
904,620

Adjusted gross margin for crude oil, NGL and produced water assets
 
68,025

 
39,079

 
159,339

 
104,900



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Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Reconciliation of Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP to Adjusted EBITDA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP
 
$
154,646

 
$
143,506

 
$
336,717

 
$
418,846

Add:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distributions from equity investments
 
51,023

 
29,145

 
111,924

 
80,568

Non-cash equity-based compensation expense
 
1,548

 
1,258

 
5,552

 
3,479

Interest expense
 
47,991

 
35,544

 
131,663

 
106,794

Income tax expense
 
1,517

 
510

 
3,301

 
4,905

Depreciation and amortization (1)
 
81,826

 
71,812

 
236,008

 
214,213

Impairments (1)
 
23,930

 
2,159

 
151,321

 
170,079

Other expense (1)
 
33

 

 
184

 
140

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net
 
65

 
72

 
351

 
135,017

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
43,110

 
21,519

 
102,752

 
62,708

Interest income – affiliates
 
4,225

 
4,225

 
12,675

 
12,675

Other income (1)
 
592

 
283

 
2,592

 
960

Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
314,522

 
$
257,835

 
$
858,300

 
$
787,664

Reconciliation of Net cash provided by operating activities to Adjusted EBITDA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
$
236,811

 
$
211,947

 
$
751,722

 
$
645,099

Interest (income) expense, net
 
43,766

 
31,319

 
118,988

 
94,119

Uncontributed cash-based compensation awards
 
(55
)
 
78

 
932

 
(94
)
Accretion and amortization of long-term obligations, net
 
(1,257
)
 
(1,055
)
 
(3,883
)
 
(3,194
)
Current income tax (benefit) expense
 
(14
)
 
395

 
247

 
1,023

Other (income) expense, net
 
(598
)
 
(286
)
 
(2,609
)
 
(969
)
Distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings – affiliates
 
5,592

 
7,034

 
18,097

 
16,255

Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts receivable, net
 
57,535

 
56,335

 
64,544

 
46,972

Accounts and imbalance payables and accrued liabilities, net
 
(14,781
)
 
(45,982
)
 
(55,354
)
 
(4,007
)
Other items, net
 
(9,379
)
 
3,181

 
(24,049
)
 
3,065

Adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interest
 
(3,098
)
 
(5,131
)
 
(10,335
)
 
(10,605
)
Adjusted EBITDA
 
$
314,522

 
$
257,835

 
$
858,300

 
$
787,664

Cash flow information of Western Gas Partners, LP
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
 
 
 
 
$
751,722

 
$
645,099

Net cash used in investing activities
 
 
 
 
 
(1,160,684
)
 
(514,797
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
 
 
 
 
460,816

 
(335,792
)
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
Includes our 75% share of depreciation and amortization; impairments; other expense; and other income attributable to the Chipeta complex.



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Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands except Coverage ratio
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Reconciliation of Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP to Distributable cash flow and calculation of the Coverage ratio
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) attributable to Western Gas Partners, LP
 
$
154,646

 
$
143,506

 
$
336,717

 
$
418,846

Add:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distributions from equity investments
 
51,023

 
29,145

 
111,924

 
80,568

Non-cash equity-based compensation expense
 
1,548

 
1,258

 
5,552

 
3,479

Non-cash settled interest expense, net (1)
 

 

 

 
71

Income tax (benefit) expense
 
1,517

 
510

 
3,301

 
4,905

Depreciation and amortization (2)
 
81,826

 
71,812

 
236,008

 
214,213

Impairments (2)
 
23,930

 
2,159

 
151,321

 
170,079

Above-market component of swap agreements with Anadarko (3)
 
12,601

 
18,049

 
40,722

 
46,719

Other expense (2)
 
33

 

 
184

 
140

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recognized Service revenues – fee based (less than) in excess of customer billings (4)
 
4,397

 

 
536

 

Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net
 
65

 
72

 
351

 
135,017

Equity income, net – affiliates
 
43,110

 
21,519

 
102,752

 
62,708

Cash paid for maintenance capital expenditures  (2)
 
23,837

 
10,591

 
61,162

 
33,115

Capitalized interest
 
6,967

 
2,115

 
17,032

 
3,991

Cash paid for (reimbursement of) income taxes
 

 

 
(87
)
 
189

Series A Preferred unit distributions
 

 

 

 
7,453

Other income (2)
 
592

 
283

 
2,592

 
960

Distributable cash flow
 
$
248,156

 
$
231,859

 
$
701,391

 
$
695,587

Distributions declared   (5)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Limited partners – common units
 
$
147,268

 
 
 
$
434,930

 
 
General partner
 
82,971

 
 
 
242,133

 
 
Total
 
$
230,239

 
 
 
$
677,063

 
 
Coverage ratio
 
1.08

x
 
 
1.04

x
 
                                                                                                                                                                                    
(1)  
Includes amounts related to the Deferred purchase price obligation - Anadarko. See Note 3—Acquisitions and Divestitures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q .
(2)  
Includes our 75% share of depreciation and amortization; impairments; other expense; cash paid for maintenance capital expenditures; and other income attributable to the Chipeta complex.
(3)  
See Note 6—Transactions with Affiliates in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q .
(4)  
See Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q .
(5)  
Reflects cash distributions of $0.965 and $2.850 per unit declared for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 , respectively.


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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our primary cash requirements are for acquisitions and capital expenditures, debt service, customary operating expenses, quarterly distributions to our limited partners and general partner, and distributions to our noncontrolling interest owner. Our sources of liquidity as of September 30, 2018 , included cash and cash equivalents, cash flows generated from operations, interest income on our $260.0 million note receivable from Anadarko, available borrowing capacity under the RCF, and issuances of additional equity or debt securities. We believe that cash flows generated from these sources will be sufficient to satisfy our short-term working capital requirements and long-term maintenance and expansion capital expenditure requirements. The amount of future distributions to unitholders will depend on our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors, including the extension of our commodity price swap agreements, and will be determined by the Board of Directors on a quarterly basis. Due to our cash distribution policy, we expect to rely on external financing sources, including equity and debt issuances, to fund expansion capital expenditures and future acquisitions. However, to limit interest expense, we may use operating cash flows to fund expansion capital expenditures or acquisitions, which could result in subsequent borrowings under the RCF to pay distributions or fund other short-term working capital requirements.
Our partnership agreement requires that we distribute all of our available cash (as defined in the partnership agreement) to unitholders of record on the applicable record date within 45 days of the end of each quarter. We have made cash distributions to our unitholders each quarter since our IPO and have increased our quarterly distribution each quarter since the second quarter of 2009. The Board of Directors declared a cash distribution to our unitholders for the third quarter of 2018 of $0.965 per unit, or $230.2 million in aggregate, including incentive distributions, but excluding distributions on Class C units. The cash distribution is payable on November 13, 2018 , to unitholders of record at the close of business on October 31, 2018 . In connection with the closing of the DBM acquisition in November 2014, we issued Class C units that will receive distributions in the form of additional Class C units until March 1, 2020, unless earlier converted (see Note 4—Partnership Distributions in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q ). The Class C unit distribution, if paid in cash, would have been $13.6 million for the third quarter of 2018 .
Management continuously monitors our leverage position and coordinates our capital expenditure program, quarterly distributions and acquisition strategy with our expected cash flows and projected debt-repayment schedule. We will continue to evaluate funding alternatives, including additional borrowings and the issuance of debt or equity securities, to secure funds as needed or to refinance outstanding debt balances with longer term notes. To facilitate potential debt or equity securities offerings, we have the ability to sell securities under our shelf registration statements. Our ability to generate cash flows is subject to a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control. Read Risk Factors under Part II , Item 1A of this Form 10-Q .

Working capital . As of September 30, 2018 , we had a $130.4 million working capital deficit, which we define as the amount by which current liabilities exceed current assets. Working capital is an indication of our liquidity and potential need for short-term funding. Our working capital requirements are driven by changes in accounts receivable and accounts payable and factors such as credit extended to, and the timing of collections from, our customers, and the level and timing of our spending for maintenance and expansion activity. Our working capital deficit as of September 30, 2018 , was primarily due to (i) the costs incurred related to continued construction and expansion at the DBJV system and the DBM and DJ Basin complexes and (ii) system shutdowns at the Hilight system and DJ Basin complex. See Note 1—Description of Business and Basis of Presentation and Note 9—Components of Working Capital in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q . As of September 30, 2018 , we had $1,495.4 million available for borrowing under the RCF. See Note 10—Debt and Interest Expense in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q .


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Capital expenditures . Our business is capital intensive, requiring significant investment to maintain and improve existing facilities or develop new midstream infrastructure. We categorize capital expenditures as either of the following:
 
maintenance capital expenditures, which include those expenditures required to maintain the existing operating capacity and service capability of our assets, such as to replace system components and equipment that have been subject to significant use over time, become obsolete or reached the end of their useful lives, to remain in compliance with regulatory or legal requirements or to complete additional well connections to maintain existing system throughput and related cash flows (for fiscal year 2018, the general partner’s Board of Directors has approved Estimated Maintenance Capital Expenditures (as defined in our partnership agreement) of $19.5 million per quarter); or

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

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

 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2018
 
2017
Acquisitions
 
$
162,112

 
$
159,208

 
 
 
 
 
Expansion capital expenditures
 
$
887,843

 
$
384,416

Maintenance capital expenditures
 
61,179

 
33,391

Total capital expenditures (1) (2)
 
$
949,022

 
$
417,807

 
 
 
 
 
Capital incurred (2)
 
$
923,407

 
$
504,286

                                                                                                                                                                                     
(1)  
Capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , are presented net of $1.4 million of contributions in aid of construction costs from affiliates.
(2)  
For the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 , included $17.0 million and $4.0 million , respectively, of capitalized interest.

Acquisitions during 2018 included a 20% interest in Whitethorn, a 15% interest in Cactus II and equipment purchases from Anadarko. Acquisitions during 2017 included the Additional DBJV System Interest and equipment purchases from Anadarko. See Note 3—Acquisitions and Divestitures and Note 6—Transactions with Affiliates in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q .
Capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions, increase d by $531.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 . Expansion capital expenditures increase d by $503.4 million (including a $13.0 million increase in capitalized interest) for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to increases of $322.9 million at the DBJV system, $204.7 million at the DJ Basin complex and $16.9 million at the Haley system, primarily due to pipe, compression and processing projects. These increases were partially offset by decreases of (i) $31.1 million at the DBM water systems, which commenced operation during the second quarter of 2017 and (ii) $13.8 million at the DBM complex due to the start-up of Train VI in December 2017. Maintenance capital expenditures increase d by $27.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , primarily due to increases at the DJ Basin complex, DBJV system and DBM complex.
During the first quarter of 2018, we updated our estimated total capital expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2018, (including equity investments and our 75% share of Chipeta’s capital expenditures, but excluding acquisitions) from an originally reported $1.0 billion to $1.1 billion, to a current range of $1.35 billion to $1.45 billion to reflect our acquisition of a 20% interest in Whitethorn and a 15% interest in Cactus II. Additionally, during the third quarter of 2018, we updated our estimated maintenance capital expenditures from a previously reported range of $90.0 million to $100.0 million, to a current range of $85.0 million to $95.0 million.


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Historical cash flow . The following table and discussion present a summary of our net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities, investing activities and financing activities:
 
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
thousands
 
2018
 
2017
Net cash provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
Operating activities
 
$
751,722

 
$
645,099

Investing activities
 
(1,160,684
)
 
(514,797
)
Financing activities
 
460,816

 
(335,792
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
 
$
51,854

 
$
(205,490
)

Operating Activities . Net cash provided by operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , increase d primarily due to the impact of changes in working capital items and increases in distributions from equity investments. Refer to Operating Results within this Item 2 for a discussion of our results of operations as compared to the prior periods.

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

$949.0 million of capital expenditures, primarily related to construction and expansion at the DBJV system and the DBM and DJ Basin complexes;

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

$68.0 million of capital contributions paid to Cactus II, the TEFR Interests, Whitethorn and White Cliffs for construction activities; and

$18.1 million of distributions received from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings.

Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , included the following:

$417.8 million of capital expenditures, net of $1.4 million of contributions in aid of construction costs from affiliates, primarily related to plant construction and expansion at the DBM and DJ Basin complexes and the DBJV system;

$155.3 million of cash consideration paid as part of the Property Exchange;

$23.3 million of net proceeds from the sale of the Helper and Clawson systems in Utah;

$23.0 million of proceeds from property insurance claims attributable to the incident at the DBM complex in 2015;

$16.3 million of distributions received from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings; and

$3.9 million  of cash paid for equipment purchases from Anadarko.

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

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


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

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

$663.4 million of distributions paid to our unitholders;

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

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

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

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

Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , included the following:

$589.3 million of distributions paid to our unitholders;

$250.0 million of borrowings under the RCF, which were used for general partnership purposes;

$46.7 million of capital contributions from Anadarko related to the above-market component of swap agreements;

$37.3 million of cash paid to Anadarko for the settlement of the Deferred purchase price obligation - Anadarko; and

$9.0 million of distributions paid to the noncontrolling interest owner of Chipeta.

Debt and credit facility. As of September 30, 2018 , the carrying value of our outstanding debt was $4.6 billion . See Note 10—Debt and Interest Expense in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q .

Senior Notes . In August 2018, the 4.750% Senior Notes due 2028 and 5.500% Senior Notes due 2048 were offered to the public at prices of 99.818% and 98.912% , respectively, of the face amount. Including the effects of the issuance and underwriting discounts, the effective interest rates of the senior notes are 4.885% and 5.652% , respectively. Interest is paid on each such series semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning February 15, 2019. The net proceeds were used to repay the maturing 2.600% Senior Notes due August 2018, repay amounts outstanding under the RCF and for general partnership purposes, including to fund capital expenditures.
In March 2018, the 4.500% Senior Notes due 2028 and 5.300% Senior Notes due 2048 were offered to the public at prices of 99.435% and 99.169% , respectively, of the face amount. Including the effects of the issuance and underwriting discounts, the effective interest rates of the senior notes are 4.682% and 5.431% , respectively. Interest is paid on each such series semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning September 1, 2018. The net proceeds were used to repay amounts outstanding under the RCF and for general partnership purposes, including to fund capital expenditures.
At September 30, 2018 , we were in compliance with all covenants under the indentures governing our outstanding notes.


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Revolving credit facility. In February 2018, we entered into the five-year $1.5 billion RCF by amending and restating the $1.2 billion credit facility that was originally entered into in February 2014. The RCF is expandable to a maximum of $2.0 billion , matures in February 2023, with options to extend maturity by up to two additional one year increments, and bears interest at LIBOR, plus applicable margins ranging from 1.00% to 1.50% , or an alternate base rate equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 0.50% , or (c) LIBOR plus 1.00% , in each case plus applicable margins currently ranging from zero to 0.50% , based upon our senior unsecured debt rating. We are required to pay a quarterly facility fee ranging from 0.125% to 0.250% of the commitment amount (whether used or unused), also based upon our senior unsecured debt rating.
As of September 30, 2018 , we had no outstanding borrowings and $4.6 million in outstanding letters of credit, resulting in $1,495.4 million available for borrowing under the RCF. At September 30, 2018 , the interest rate on the RCF was 3.56% and the facility fee rate was 0.20% . At September 30, 2018 , we were in compliance with all covenants under the RCF.

Securities . We may issue an indeterminate amount of common units and various debt securities under our effective shelf registration statement on file with the SEC. We may also issue common units under the $500.0 million COP, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions and other factors at the time of offering. As of September 30, 2018 , we had issued no common units under the registration statement associated with the $500.0 million COP.

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

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

Our contractual obligations include, among other things, a revolving credit facility, other third-party long-term debt, capital obligations related to our expansion projects and various operating leases. Refer to Note 10—Debt and Interest Expense and Note 11—Commitments and Contingencies in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for an update to our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2018 .


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OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

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

RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS

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

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Commodity price risk. Certain of our processing services are provided under percent-of-proceeds and keep-whole agreements in which Anadarko is typically responsible for the marketing of the natural gas, condensate and NGLs. Under percent-of-proceeds agreements, we receive a specified percentage of the net proceeds from the sale of residue and/or NGLs. Under keep-whole agreements, we keep 100% of the NGLs produced and the processed natural gas, or value of the natural gas, is returned to the producer, and since some of the gas is used and removed during processing, we compensate the producer for the amount of gas used and removed in processing by supplying additional gas or by paying an agreed-upon value for the gas used.
To mitigate a majority of our exposure to the commodity price risk inherent in our percent-of-proceeds, percent-of-product and keep-whole contracts, we currently have in place commodity price swap agreements with Anadarko covering activity at the DJ Basin complex and the MGR assets. On December 20, 2017 , we renewed these commodity price swap agreements through December 31, 2018, with an effective date of January 1, 2018. See Note 6—Transactions with Affiliates in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I , Item 1 of this Form 10-Q .
We consider our exposure to commodity price risk associated with the above-described arrangements to be minimal given the existence of the commodity price swap agreements with Anadarko resulting in the relatively small amount of our operating income (loss) that is impacted by changes in market prices. Accordingly, we do not expect that a 10% increase or decrease in commodity prices would have a material impact on our operating income (loss), financial condition or cash flows for the next twelve months, excluding the effect of imbalances described below.
We bear a limited degree of commodity price risk with respect to settlement of our natural gas imbalances that arise from differences in gas volumes received into our systems and gas volumes delivered by us to customers, as well as instances where our actual liquids recovery or fuel usage varies from the contractually stipulated amounts. Natural gas volumes owed to or by us that are subject to monthly cash settlement are valued according to the terms of the contract as of the balance sheet dates, and generally reflect market index prices. Other natural gas volumes owed to or by us are valued at our weighted-average cost of natural gas as of the balance sheet dates and are settled in-kind. Our exposure to the impact of changes in commodity prices on outstanding imbalances depends on the timing of settlement of the imbalances.

Interest rate risk. The Federal Open Market Committee raised its target range for the federal funds rate three separate times during 2017 and three times during 2018. These increases, and any future increases, in the federal funds rate will ultimately result in an increase in our financing costs. As of September 30, 2018 , we had no outstanding borrowings under the RCF (which bears interest at a rate based on LIBOR or, at our option, an alternative base rate). A 10% change in LIBOR would have resulted in no change in net income (loss) and the fair value of the borrowings under the RCF at September 30, 2018 .
We may incur additional variable-rate debt in the future, either under the RCF or other financing sources, including commercial bank borrowings or debt issuances.


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Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures . The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Partnership’s general partner (for purposes of this Item 4, “Management”) performed an evaluation of the Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this evaluation, Management concluded that the Partnership’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2018 .

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting . There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 , that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

Kerr-McGee Gathering LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership, is currently in negotiations with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) and the Department of Justice with respect to alleged non-compliance with the leak detection and repair requirements of the federal Clean Air Act (“LDAR requirements”) at its Fort Lupton facility in the DJ Basin complex and WGR Operating, LP, another wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership, is in negotiations with the EPA with respect to alleged non-compliance with LDAR requirements at its Granger, Wyoming facility. Although management cannot predict the outcome of settlement discussions in these matters, management believes that it is reasonably likely a resolution of these matters will result in a fine or penalty for each matter in excess of $100,000. Additionally, in May 2018, DBM, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership, entered into a consent agreement and final order with the EPA with respect to alleged non-compliance with certain Risk Management Plan regulations under the Clean Air Act at the DBM complex and agreed to pay a penalty of $226,000.
Except as discussed above, we are not a party to any legal, regulatory or administrative proceedings other than proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. Management believes that there are no such proceedings for which a final disposition could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows or financial condition, or for which disclosure is otherwise required by Item 103 of Regulation S-K.


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Item 1A.  Risk Factors

Security holders and potential investors in our securities should carefully consider the risk factors set forth below and under Part I, Item 1A in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 , together with all of the other information included in this document, and in our other public filings, press releases and public discussions with management of the Partnership. Additionally, for a full discussion of the risks associated with Anadarko’s business, see Item 1A under Part I in Anadarko’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 , Anadarko’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Anadarko’s other public filings, press releases and public discussions with Anadarko management. We have identified these risk factors as important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any written or oral forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf.

Changes in laws or regulations regarding hydraulic fracturing could result in increased costs, operating restrictions or delays in the completion of oil and natural gas wells, which could decrease the need for our gathering and processing services.

While we do not conduct hydraulic fracturing, our customers do conduct such activities. Hydraulic fracturing is an essential and common practice used by many of our oil and natural gas exploration and production customers to stimulate production of natural gas and oil from dense subsurface rock formations such as shales. Hydraulic fracturing is typically regulated by state oil and natural-gas commissions, but, in recent years, several federal agencies have also asserted regulatory authority over and proposed or promulgated regulations governing certain aspects of the process. For example, in June 2016, the EPA published an effluent limit guideline final rule prohibiting the discharge of wastewater from onshore unconventional oil and gas extraction facilities to publicly owned wastewater treatment plants.
Additionally, in Colorado, where 30% of our throughput for natural gas assets (excluding equity investment throughput) is generated, certain interest groups opposed to oil and natural gas development generally, and hydraulic fracturing in particular, have from time to time pursued ballot initiatives that, if approved, would allow revisions to the state constitution or state laws in a manner that would make such exploration and production more difficult or costly in the future. Most recently, special interest groups in Colorado were successful in placing a ballot initiative known as Proposition 112 on the ballot for the November 2018 statewide election. If passed, Proposition 112 would require certain new oil and gas development on non-federal lands in the state, including hydraulic fracturing, take place a minimum distance of 2,500 feet from occupied buildings such as homes, schools, and hospitals, and other areas designated as vulnerable. Such setbacks would effectively ban new oil and gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing on a substantial portion of Colorado’s non-federal lands, which we expect would significantly reduce demand for our midstream services in the state.
Furthermore, Congress has from time to time considered the adoption of legislation to provide for federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing. At the state level, a growing number of states have adopted or are considering adopting legal requirements that could impose more stringent disclosure and/or well construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations, and states could elect to prohibit high-volume hydraulic fracturing altogether, following the approach taken by the State of New York. In addition, local governments may seek to adopt ordinances within their jurisdictions regulating the time, place and manner of drilling activities in general or hydraulic fracturing activities in particular. Further, in December 2016, the EPA released its final report on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources, concluding that “water cycle” activities associated with hydraulic fracturing may impact drinking water resources “under some circumstances.”
If new or more stringent federal, state or local legal restrictions or prohibitions relating to the hydraulic fracturing process are adopted in areas where our oil and natural gas exploration and production customers operate, those customers could incur potentially significant added costs to comply with such requirements and experience delays or curtailment in the pursuit of exploration, development or production activities, which could reduce demand for our gathering and processing services. Moreover, increased regulation of the hydraulic fracturing process could also lead to greater opposition to, and litigation over, oil and natural gas production activities using hydraulic fracturing techniques.


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

PIK Class C units. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 , in connection with the quarterly distribution for the Class C units, we issued the following additional Class C units (“PIK Class C units”) to APC Midstream Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Anadarko and the holder of the Class C units:
thousands except unit amounts
Quarters Ended
 
PIK Class C Units
 
Implied Fair Value
 
Date of
Distribution
2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31
 
261,394

 
$
13,674

 
February 2018
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
March 31
 
272,988

 
$
12,901

 
May 2018
June 30
 
267,164

 
12,998

 
August 2018

No proceeds were received as consideration for the issuance of the PIK Class C units. The PIK Class C units were issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. All outstanding Class C units will convert into common units on a one-for-one basis on March 1, 2020, unless we elect to convert such units earlier or Anadarko extends the conversion date. For more information, see Note 5—Equity and Partners’ Capital in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.


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Item 6.  Exhibits

Exhibits designated by an asterisk (*) are filed herewith and those designated with asterisks (**) are furnished herewith; all exhibits not so designated are incorporated herein by reference to a prior filing as indicated.
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
2.1#
 
2.2#
 
2.3#
 
2.4#
 
2.5#
 
2.6#
 
2.7#
 
2.8#
 
2.9#
 
2.10#
 

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Exhibit
Number
 
Description
2.11#
 
2.12#
 
2.13#
 
2.14#
 
3.1
 
3.2
 
3.3
 
3.4
 
3.5
 
3.6
 
3.7
 
4.1
 
4.2
 
4.3
 
4.4
 
4.5
 

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Exhibit
Number
 
Description
4.6
 
4.7
 
4.8
 
4.9
 
4.10
 
4.11
 
4.12
 
4.13
 
4.14
 
4.15
 
4.16
 
4.17
 
4.18
 
4.19
 
4.20
 
4.21
 

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Exhibit
Number
 
Description
4.22
 
10.1*†
 
31.1*
 
31.2*
 
32.1**
 
101.INS*
 
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*
 
XBRL Schema Document
101.CAL*
 
XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*
 
XBRL Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*
 
XBRL Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*
 
XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document
                                                                                                                                                                                    
#
Pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K, the registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
Portions of this exhibit, which was previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, were omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment. The omitted portions were filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
 
 
October 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
/s/ Benjamin M. Fink
 
Benjamin M. Fink
President and Chief Executive Officer
Western Gas Holdings, LLC
(as general partner of Western Gas Partners, LP)
 
 
October 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
/s/ Jaime R. Casas
 
Jaime R. Casas
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Western Gas Holdings, LLC
(as general partner of Western Gas Partners, LP)


66
EXHIBIT 10.1

SPECIFIC TERMS IN THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN REDACTED BECAUSE CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR THOSE TERMS HAS BEEN REQUESTED. THE REDACTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN SEPARATELY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND THE TERMS HAVE BEEN MARKED AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WITH ASTERISKS (***).



DBM #21175







GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT
DATED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2018
BY AND BETWEEN
DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
AND
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC






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DBM #21175
Execution Copy

GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT
This GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into on October 8, 2018, and effective as of January 1, 2018 (“ Effective Date ”), by and between Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC (“ DBM ”), and Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC (“ AEP ”). AEP and DBM may be referred to in this Agreement individually as a “ Party ” and collectively as the “ Parties .”
RECITALS:
WHEREAS , the Parties desire to enter this Agreement to replace Previous Agreements (as defined below) between the Parties or their respective Affiliates; where such Previous Agreements will be terminated contemporaneous with the Effective Date of this Agreement; and
WHEREAS , DBM owns and operates a gas gathering system located in Loving, Winkler, Ward, Reeves, and Culberson Counties, Texas (the “ System ”); and
WHEREAS , AEP owns or controls Gas at certain Points of Receipt (as defined below and identified on Exhibit “A” attached hereto and made apart hereof); and
WHEREAS , after the Effective Date of this Agreement, AEP desires to deliver to DBM and DBM desires to receive from AEP certain quantities of Gas from the Point(s) of Receipt and have such gas delivered for AEP’s account to the Point(s) of Delivery identified on Exhibit “B” attached hereto and made a part hereof; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, AEP and DBM do hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1    Definitions. The following terms, when used in this Agreement, shall have the following meanings:
(a)    “ Actualized Data ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 .
(b)    “ Acquiring Producer has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12.
(c)    “ AEP ” means Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC.
(d)    “ AEP Indemnitees ” or “ AEP’s Indemnitees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.2 .
(e)    “ AEP Production Forecast ” has a meaning set forth in Section 2.10 .
(f)    “ AEP’s Transporter ” means any person who receives AEP’s Gas downstream of the System.
(g)    “ Affiliate ” of a Party means any person or entity that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with that Party. For

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purposes of this definition, “control” means ownership of fifty percent (50%) or greater of the voting interest (stock or otherwise) of such entity.
(h)    “ Annual Rate Redetermination ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 .
(i)    “ Availability Factor has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3 .
(j)    “ British Thermal Unit ” or “ Btu ” means the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree (1) from fifty-nine degrees (59°) to sixty degrees (60°) Fahrenheit.
(k)    “ Btu Content ” means the number of MMBtu’s contained in the quantity of Gas delivered hereunder and shall be determined by multiplying the volume of Gas, measured in Mcf, by its corresponding Heating Value (MMBtu/cf).
(l)    “ CO 2 Treating Fee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(b) .
(m)    “ Confirmed Nominations ” has the meaning set forth on Exhibit “C” .
(n)    “ Compression Fee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(c) .
(o)    “ Consequential Damages ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.3 .
(p)    “ Conveyance ” as the meaning set forth in Section 15.1(f) .
(q)    “ Conveyed Interests ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12 .
(r)    “ cubic foot of gas ” or “ cubic feet of gas ” means the volume of Gas contained in one (l) cubic foot of space at a pressure of fourteen and sixty-five one hundredths pounds per square inch absolute (14.65 psia) and at a temperature of sixty degrees (60°) Fahrenheit.
(s)    “ Current Fees ” means with respect to a Day the following fees in effect as of that given Day: Lean Gathering Fee, HP Rich Gathering Fee, CO 2 Treating Fee, H 2 S Disposal Fee, and Compression Fee.
(t)    “ Daily Nominated Quantity ” has the meaning set forth on Exhibit “C” .
(u)    “ Day ” means a period of twenty-four (24) consecutive hours commencing at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on one calendar day and ending at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on the following day. The reference date for any Day shall be the date at the beginning of such Day.
(v)    “ DBM ” means Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC as operator of the System.
(w)    “ DBM Indemnitees ” or “ DBM’s Indemnitees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.1 .
(x)     “ Dedicated Lands ” means the lands covered by the leases and other Interests described on Exhibit “E” .

2




(y)    “ Dedication Service ” means the second highest level of service available at DBM’s System (below Firm Service but above Interruptible Service).
(z)    “ Dedicated Gas ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 .
(aa)     “ Dedication ” has the meaning described in Section 2.1 .
(bb)    “ Due Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1 .
(cc)    “ EFM ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 .
(dd)     Electricity Cost Recovery Passthrough has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2 .
(ee)    “ Firm Service ” means the highest level of service available at DBM’s System.
(ff)    “ Forecast ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 .
(gg)    “ Force Majeure ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.4 .
(hh)    “ Free Cash Flows ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 .
(ii)    “ Fuel and Loss ” means that portion of AEP’s Gas consumed in the operation of DBM’s field equipment and pipeline assets, and any Gas used, lost or unaccounted for incident to the operation of DBM’s System, including, but not limited to, Gas released through relief valves, ruptured or leaking pipelines or equipment, blowdowns, and drips.
(jj)    “ Gas ”, “ gas ” or “ Natural Gas ” means all hydrocarbons, except oil, produced from the Wells, including casinghead gas, together with all liquefiable hydrocarbon components thereof and all concomitant substances produced from the Wells, including, but not limited to, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and contained helium.
(kk)    “ Gas Daily Index ” means the midpoint average price for the Month in which an imbalance occurs published in Platts Gas Daily Price Guide , Final Daily Price Survey, Southwest El Paso Permian. If Platts Gas Daily Price Guide is no longer published, the Parties agree to substitute comparable gas pricing indices.
(ll)    “ Gathering Fee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a) .
(mm)    “ H 2 S Disposal Fee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(d) .
(nn)    “ Heating Value ” means, subject to the provisions of Section 5.1 of this Agreement, the number of British Thermal Units produced by the combustion, at constant pressure, of the amount of Gas which would occupy a volume of one (1) cubic foot at a temperature of sixty degrees (60°) Fahrenheit when saturated with water vapor and under a constant pressure of 14.65 psia, with air of the same temperature and pressure as the Gas, when the products of combustion are cooled to the initial temperature of the Gas and air and when the water formed by combustion is condensed to the liquid state. For the purpose of making Btu calculations, Gas dehydrated to a water content not exceeding seven (7) pounds per MMcf shall be considered dry. Gas having water content in excess of seven (7) pounds per MMcf shall be considered saturated at the delivery conditions of pressure and temperature.

3




(oo)    “ High Pressure Service ” means gathering services at Points of Receipt designated as “High Pressure” by DBM in its reasonable discretion, as such designation may change from time to time.
(pp)    “ HP Rich Gathering Fee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a)(ii).
(qq)    “ Interest ” means any right, title or interest of any nature in and to lands, wells, and oil and gas leases and the unproduced Gas and Gas production from AEP operated Wells attributable thereto, whether arising from fee ownership, working interests ownership, mineral ownership, or leasehold ownership (in each case, including all production depths, zones, and formations covered thereby), together with any pooling, unitization, or communization of any of the foregoing.
(rr)    “ Interruptible Service ” means, with respect to DBM’s obligations under this Agreement, DBM may at any time, in its sole and absolute discretion, interrupt, curtail or suspend, in whole or in part, such obligations, without any liability on the part of DBM.
(ss)    “ IRR Calculation ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 .
(tt)     Lean Gas ” means Gas containing a total gross Heating Value less than or equal to one thousand fifty (1050) Btu.
(uu)    “ Lean Gathering Fee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a)(i) .
(vv)    “ Low Pressure Service ” means gathering services at Points of Receipt designated as “Low Pressure” by DBM in its reasonable discretion, as such designation may change from time to time.
(ww)    “ LP Rich Gathering Fee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a)(ii) .
(xx)    “ Mcf ” means one thousand (1,000) cubic feet of Gas.
(yy)    “ Memorandum ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8 .
(zz)    “ Midstream Affiliate of DBM ” means a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of WGR Operating, LP providing midstream services ( i.e. , the gathering of wastewater, natural gas, or crude oil) for a well that is connected to the System and is operated by AEP.
(aaa)    *** *** ***.
(bbb)    “ MMBtu ” means one million (1,000,000) British Thermal Units.
(ccc)    “ Month ” means the period beginning at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on the first Day of the calendar month and ending at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on the first Day of the next succeeding calendar month.

4




(ddd)    “ Point(s) of Receipt ” shall mean the inlet of DBM’s System and existing gas measurement facilities for each point identified on the attached Exhibit “A” , where DBM receives Gas from AEP.
(eee)    “ Previous Agreements ” means the Gas Gathering Agreement effective November 1, 2008, as amended, between Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC and Delaware Basin JV Gathering LLC (#8850), the Gas Gathering Agreement effective January 1, 2014, as amended, between Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC and Anadarko Gathering Company LLC (#20081), and the Gas Gathering Agreement effective November 1, 2008, as amended, between Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and Delaware Basin JV Gathering LLC (#19331).
(fff)    “ Primary Term ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1.
(ggg)    “ psia ” means pounds per square inch absolute.
(hhh)    “ Regardless of Fault ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.1(iii) .
(iii)    “ Rich Gas means Gas containing a total gross Heating Value greater than one thousand fifty (1050) Btu.
(jjj)    “ System ” means all pipeline assets and appurtenances owned and operated by DBM which make up the Delaware Basin Gas Gathering System, located in Loving, Winkler, Ward, Reeves, and Culberson Counties, Texas, including future additions or modifications to said pipeline assets and appurtenances. The terms “ pipeline assets ” and “ appurtenances ” shall include, but not be limited to, gas pipelines, gas measurement facilities, gas compressors, dehydration units, equipment, buildings with contents, surface leases, rights-of-way and any and all related personal or real property.
(kkk)    “ Thermal ” or “ Thermally Equivalent ” means an equal number of Btus.
(lll)     “ TOTS Date ” means, with respect to a Well, the date which AEP reasonably expects to “turn over to sales” for such Well.
(mmm)    “ Transportation Interests ” has the meaning set forth in Section 15.1(a) .
(nnn)    “ Well ” means any well classified as a gas well or an oil well by the governmental authority having jurisdiction.
(ooo)    “ Well Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7(a) .



ARTICLE II
COMMITMENT
Section 2.1     Dedication . AEP hereby dedicates AEP’s Interests in the Dedicated Lands and dedicates and agrees each Day to deliver to DBM at the Point(s) of Receipt for services hereunder by DBM all Gas produced or producible within the Dedicated Lands which is attributable to (a) AEP’s

5




Interests within Dedicated Lands as of the Effective Date and (b) third party non-operated Interests within the Dedicated Lands operated by AEP for which Gas is not taken in-kind, and for which AEP, in its capacity as operator of such third party Interest, from time to time has the obligation or right to market such Gas. The dedication and delivery obligations herein respecting Gas produced from AEP’s Interests within the Dedicated Lands are referred to as the (“ Dedication ”). The Gas subject to the Dedication is the (“ Dedicated Gas ”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Dedication shall only apply to Gas produced from AEP’s operated wells.
Section 2.2     Warranty . AEP represents and warrants to DBM (on the Effective Date and with each delivery thereafter) that neither AEP’s Interests in the Dedicated Lands nor Gas produced or producible from the Dedicated Lands are subject to a third party dedication prior to the Effective Date (except for prior dedications on subsequently acquired interests).
Section 2.3     Affiliate . AEP’s Dedication and delivery obligations respecting Gas produced from Interests within the Dedicated Lands shall apply equally to all Gas owned or controlled by AEP’s Affiliates which is attributable to its Interests within the Dedicated Lands. AEP shall cause its Affiliates to dedicate and deliver such Gas to the Point(s) of Receipt and comply with Section 2.2 in accordance with this Section 2.3 . For purposes of this Agreement, references to AEP and Gas produced from Interests within the Dedicated Lands shall include AEP’s Affiliates and such Affiliates’ Gas produced from their respective Interests within the Dedicated Lands, as applicable pursuant to this Section 2.3 .
Section 2.4     Pool or Unit . Gas produced from a pool or unit created from Interests within the Dedicated Lands shall be subject to the Dedication to the extent of AEP’s operated Interest in the pool or unit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, this Section 2.4 shall only apply to Gas attributable to AEP’s operated Interest in the pool or unit.
Section 2.5     Upstream Use . Gas used on the Dedicated Lands for development of the properties for drilling and production operations, or for fulfilling obligations to lessors under leases covering the Dedicated Lands, shall be excluded from Dedication, provided that such Gas is utilized upstream of the Point(s) of Receipt. Upon written request from AEP, AEP and DBM will negotiate in good faith a separate agreement pursuant to which DBM will deliver buyback Gas to AEP.
Section 2.6     In-Kind Royalties . Gas taken in-kind in lieu of royalties under any oil and gas leases shall not be subject to Dedication.
Section 2.7     Production Operations . AEP shall have the right to operate the Dedicated Lands free of any control by DBM, including but not limited to the right (but not the obligation) to drill new wells, to repair and rework old wells, to shut in wells or flare production, and to renew, surrender, release or terminate any lease in whole or in part.
Section 2.8     Covenant Running with the Land and Memorandum . Rights and obligations respecting the Dedication constitute a covenant running with the Dedicated Lands, and as such shall be binding upon and enforceable by each Party and its successors and assigns against the other Party and its successors and assigns respecting any part of a subject interest so assigned or conveyed. AEP shall (and shall cause its Affiliates to) cause any conveyance of part or all of an Interest in the Dedicated Lands to be made expressly subject to this Agreement. DBM and each of the AEP Entities shall promptly execute, acknowledge, deliver and record a short form memorandum of this Agreement in the form of

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Exhibit “G” attached hereto (the “ Memorandum ”) in the land records of the applicable jurisdictions. AEP represents and warrants to DBM (on the Effective Date and with each delivery of Gas) that (i) it owns, or has the right to dedicate, all Interests and Gas dedicated under this Agreement and to deliver Dedicated Gas to the Point of Receipt, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and claims, and (ii) it has the right to convey the Transportation Interests.
Section 2.9     Indemnity . AEP will defend, release, discharge, relinquish, indemnify, protect and hold harmless DBM’s Indemnitees from and against any and all losses, claims, liens, demands and causes of action of every kind and character (including Consequential Damages as defined below but excluding all punitive or exemplary damages) including, but not limited to, the amounts of judgments, penalties, interest, court costs, investigation expenses and costs and reasonable attorneys’ and legal fees incurred by DBM’s Indemnitees arising out of, or related to, any breach of the representation and warranty in Section 2.2 . The obligations set forth in this Section 2.9 will continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding the expiration or early termination of this Agreement, with respect to any claims based on facts or conditions that occurred prior to the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
Section 2.10     Forecast . When requested in writing by DBM and within the first five (5) Days of each calendar year during the term of this Agreement AEP shall provide DBM a production forecast of the Gas expected to be delivered hereunder by Month for the remainder of the Primary Term (the “ AEP Production Forecast ) . The AEP Production Forecast shall be AEP’s good faith estimate of future production and based on AEP’s then current engineering, planning, and budgetary data.
Section 2.11     Other Gas . AEP may not deliver Gas not produced from within the Dedicated Lands without the express written consent of DBM.
Section 2.12     Acreage Transfers . *** *** *** ***.
ARTICLE III
QUANTITY
Section 3.1     DBM Obligation . During the Term of this Agreement, DBM agrees to receive, gather, compress and deliver, less Fuel and Loss, AEP’s share of all Gas made available at the Point(s) of Receipt hereunder, subject to the nomination and confirmation procedures set forth in Section 3.2 hereof.
Section 3.2     Nomination . If AEP desires gathering service in any Month, AEP shall furnish DBM a written nomination in accordance with the procedures described in Exhibit “C” attached hereto and made a part hereof. However, DBM reserves the right, at any time with at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to AEP, to modify or change the nomination, confirmation, allocation, and/or imbalance procedures contained in Exhibit “C” and this Gas Gathering Agreement, or establish new procedures, as necessary, for the effective operation of the System. Notwithstanding the above, no changes or modifications to the nomination, confirmation, allocation, and/or imbalance procedures contained in Exhibit “C” shall be made unless mutually agreed upon by both Parties.

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Section 3.3     Curtailment . Notwithstanding any of the above provisions to the contrary, DBM shall have the right to interrupt or curtail receipts of Gas into the System at any time pursuant to the Curtailment and Release Procedures set forth in Exhibit “D” attached hereto and made a part hereof. However, DBM reserves the right, at any time with at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to AEP, to modify or change the curtailment procedures set forth in Exhibit “D” , and/or establish new procedures as necessary to properly allocate the available capacity on the System.
Section 3.4     Comingling . DBM shall have the unqualified right to commingle Gas received, gathered, compressed, and delivered hereunder with Gas from other sources. It is recognized that Gas delivered at a Point of Delivery may not be the same molecules as those received at a Point of Receipt. The quantities of Gas delivered pursuant to this Agreement at a Point of Delivery shall be Thermally Equivalent to the quantities of Gas received at a Point of Receipt, as adjusted for Fuel and Loss.
Section 3.5     Discontinuance . Beginning ten (10) years after the Effective Date, if in DBM’s sole judgment made in good faith, it is no longer economical for DBM to gather and compress Gas from any Point(s) of Receipt, DBM may discontinue the taking of such Gas upon giving at least sixty (60) Days prior written notice to AEP. Any such Point(s) of Receipt shall be released from this Agreement and the Transportation Interests insofar only as Gas that may be produced to such Point(s) of Receipt shall automatically revert back to AEP. Further, if, in DBM’s sole judgment made in good faith, DBM deems the continued operation of all or part of the System to be uneconomical, DBM may discontinue operation of all or part of the System, upon giving at least sixty (60) Days prior written notice to AEP. Before discontinuing service to any Point(s) of Receipt pursuant to this Section 3.5 , the Parties shall endeavor to identify mutually agreeable terms that would make the service to such Point(s) of Receipt reasonably economical for DBM. In connection with the release of Transportation Interests pursuant to this Section 3.5 , DBM and AEP shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may become reasonably necessary or appropriate to effectuate the reversion of Transportation Interests with respect thereto.
Section 3.6     Pipeline Drips . DBM may collect and remove pipeline drips from the System for operational efficiency and meet downstream quality specifications prior to delivery of AEP’s share of Gas at the Point(s) of Delivery. *** *** *** ***.
Section 3.7     Well Connections:
(a)     Well Notice . AEP shall notify DBM of AEP’s intent to drill a new Well within the Dedicated Lands where such notice shall: (i) be in writing and comply with Article X of this Agreement; (ii) be provided at least *** (***) Days in advance of the planned TOTS Date of such Well; and (iii) include, at a minimum, the location of the Well, the intended production zone, the planned spud date, the planned completion date, the planned TOTS Date, a ten year gas production forecast, and any other information reasonably requested by DBM (the “ Well Notice ”).

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(b)     Expected TOTS through December 31, 2027 . For each planned Well with an expected TOTS Date on or before December 31, 2027, DBM will, subject to applicable law and the terms of this Agreement, construct, install and operate, the pipeline assets and appurtenances it deems necessary to connect the planned Well and, upon completion, include such pipeline assets and appurtenances in the System and provide service to the planned Well pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(c)     Expected TOTS after December 31, 2027 . For each planned Well with an expected TOTS Date during the Term but after December 31, 2027, DBM will, within *** (***) Days of receiving a Well Notice, notify AEP in writing whether or not DBM elects to connect such planned Well to the System.
(i)    If DBM elects to connect the planned Well, then DBM will, subject to applicable law and the terms of this Agreement, construct, install and operate, at its sole cost, the pipeline assets and appurtenances it deems necessary to connect the planned Well and, upon completion, include such pipeline assets and appurtenances in the System and provide service to the planned Well pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(ii)    If, DBM determines that the then applicable rates do not support the cost of connecting the planned well, the Parties will negotiate in good faith to revise the rates as necessary to support the costs. If DBM elects not to connect the planned Well, then AEP may (x) construct, own, and operate the facilities necessary to deliver its Gas from the Well to a mutually agreeable point on the System and reimburse DBM for the costs for pipeline assets and appurtenances incurred by DBM to connect such AEP’s facilities to the System (it being understood that such AEP’s facilities shall NOT be considered part of the System and that service under this agreement shall commence with respect to such Well once both Parties have completed their required facilities); or (y) request a permanent release in writing for such planned Well and a reversion of the Transportation Interests to AEP insofar only as Gas that may be produced and saved from such Well(which shall be granted within five (5) business Days after DBM’s receipt of such written request).
(d)    DBM will, to the extent it is obligated to construct Well connection facilities pursuant to Section 3.7(b) or elects to do so pursuant to Section 3.7(c)(i) , endeavor to construct the Well connection facilities on a commercially reasonable basis but does not guarantee that the facilities will be available for commercial service on or before the expected TOTS Date shown on the relevant Well Notice. If the Well connection facilities for an AEP Well are not available for commercial service within *** (***) Days after the expected TOTS Date shown in the applicable Well Notice, then (i) AEP’s Gas from that Well shall be temporarily released from the Dedication until DBM notifies AEP that the relevant Well connection facilities are available for commercial service; and (ii) the Parties will endeavor to identify mutually agreeable alternatives.
ARTICLE IV
RECEIPT, DELIVERY AND PRESSURE
Section 4.1     Pressure . The Gas delivered hereunder at the Point(s) of Receipt shall be at a pressure which is sufficient to enable Gas to enter the System against the prevailing pressure therein from time to time. In the event AEP’s Gas is unable to flow against DBM’s System and pipeline pressures, either DBM or AEP may install compression facilities to serve such Point(s) of Receipt.

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However, neither DBM nor AEP shall be under any obligation to install such compression facilities, but if DBM does so, DBM shall charge AEP the Compression Fee set forth in Section 6.1(c) for such service. If neither Party elects to install compression facilities for such Point(s) of Receipt, then such Point(s) of Receipt shall be released from the terms of this Agreement and the Transportation Interests insofar only as Gas that may be produced to such Point(s) of Receipt shall automatically revert back to AEP upon the written request of AEP.
Section 4.2     Custody . AEP shall have custody and control of its Gas prior to such Gas being delivered hereunder to DBM at the Point(s) of Receipt and AEP shall be solely responsible for any damages, losses, or injuries caused by or related to the Gas. DBM shall take custody and control of such Gas at the Point(s) of Receipt and shall be solely responsible for any injuries or damages caused by or related to its custody of the Gas from the Points of Receipt until such Gas is delivered at the Point(s) of Delivery; at which time AEP or AEP’s Transporter shall have custody of such Gas and DBM shall no longer be responsible for any damages, losses or injuries caused by or related to the Gas. Subject to Section 12.1 and Section 12.2 , the Party who has custody of the Gas shall be responsible for and shall indemnify the other Party with respect to any losses, injuries, claims, liabilities or damages, caused thereby and occurring while the Gas is in its custody, as set out or limited elsewhere in this Agreement. AEP shall retain title to its Gas at all times while such Gas is in the custody and control of DBM.
Section 4.3     Availability Factor . DBM shall endeavor to, but does not guaranty, that it will maintain a weighted average Gas compressor availability of ***% (weighted by compressor throughput capacity) (the “ Availability Factor ”) each calendar quarter. If the Availability Factor for a calendar quarter is less than ***%, then DBM will invest the reasonably necessary capital to achieve the ***% Availability Factor.

ARTICLE V
QUALITY
Section 5.1     Quality . Except as provided below, AEP’s Gas delivered to DBM by AEP in accordance with this Agreement will be commercially free of hazardous waste as defined in the Resources Conservation Recovery Act, 42 USC § 690.1, et. seq , mercury, and substances which may be injurious to pipelines, meters or other facilities of the System, or which may interfere with processing, transmission, or commercial utilization of such Gas. Additionally, the AEP’s Gas will conform to the following specifications (the “ Specifications ”):
 
(a)
Nitrogen
Not more than ***% by volume
 
(b)
Oxygen
Not more than *** PPM
 
(c)
Carbon Dioxide
Not more than ***% by volume
 
(d)
Hydrogen Sulfide
Not more than *** PPM
 
(e)
Mercaptan Sulfur
Not more than *** grain per *** cubic feet
 
(f)
Total Sulfur
Not more than *** *** per *** cubic feet
 
(g)
Free Water
***
 
(h)
Heating Value Lean Gas
Not more than *** Btu per cubic foot

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(i)
Heating Value Rich Gas
Not less than *** Btu per cubic foot
 
(j)
Temperature
Not less than ***° and not more than ***° Fahrenheit

DBM will not be required to accept at any Points of Receipt any of AEP’s Gas tendered by AEP under this Agreement until such Gas conforms to the Specifications.
Section 5.2     Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Sulfide . AEP agrees that, to the extent AEP’s Gas at a Points of Receipt contains carbon dioxide in excess of the *** percent (***%) by volume, DBM shall have the right and option to either (a) refuse to accept such Gas, or (b) accept such Gas and charge the CO 2 Treating Fee as provided in Section 6.1(b) . AEP agrees that, to the extent AEP’s Gas at a Points of Receipt contains hydrogen sulfide in excess of *** (***) PPM by volume, DBM shall have the right and option to either (x) refuse to accept such Gas, or (y) accept such Gas and charge the H 2 S Disposal Fee as provided in Section 6.1(d) .
Section 5.3     Non-Conforming Gas . If AEP becomes aware that any of its Gas fails to conform to the Specifications (“ Non-Conforming Gas ”), then as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of such condition, AEP shall give written notice to DBM of the Non-Conforming Gas and the manner in which such Non-Conforming Gas does not conform to the Specifications. If DBM becomes aware that any of AEP’s Gas fails to conform to the Specifications, then as soon as reasonably practicable after becoming aware of such condition, DBM shall give written notice to AEP of the Non-Conforming Gas and the manner in which such Non-Conforming Gas does not conform to the Specifications. If AEP’s Gas delivered to a Point of Receipt fails to meet the Specifications, then AEP shall cause such Gas to meet the Specifications. DBM will have the right to refuse to accept Non-Conforming Gas from AEP to the extent, and for so long as, AEP is unable to deliver Gas conforming to the Specifications or, at DBM’s sole discretion, accept such Non-Conforming Gas and charge AEP a mutually agreeable Non-Conforming Gas fee, provided that even if the Parties mutually agree on a Non-Conforming Gas fee, DBM may, in its sole discretion, cease accepting Non-Conforming Gas at any time. If DBM at any time accepts delivery of Non-Conforming Gas, that acceptance will not constitute a waiver of this provision with respect to any future delivery of Gas. AEP AGREES TO ASSUME ALL LIABILITY FOR, AND AGREES TO PROTECT, DEFEND, RELEASE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS DBM’S INDEMNITEES AGAINST, ANY COSTS, EXPENSES, LOSSES, DAMAGES AND LIABILITIES TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY AEP’S NON-CONFORMING GAS, but only to the extent DBM did not knowingly accept AEP’s Non-Conforming Gas. In addition, if AEP’s Non-Conforming Gas is delivered into DBM’s System without the prior knowledge of DBM, and the quality deficiency of that Gas damages any person’s (including DBM’s) pipelines or facilities, AEP AGREES TO ASSUME ALL LIABILITY FOR, AND AGREES TO PROTECT, DEFEND, RELEASE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS DBM’S INDEMNITEES AGAINST, ALL DAMAGES TO SUCH FACILITIES CAUSED BY, OR TO THE EXTENT CONTRIBUTED TO BY, AEP’S NON-CONFORMING GAS. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will AEP be responsible for the payment of DBM’s or its Affiliates’ Consequential Damages, and DBM hereby waives any and all claims it may have against AEP for such Consequential Damages on behalf of itself or its Affiliates, arising in connection with this Agreement, REGARDLESS OF FAULT . Further, the Parties understand and agree that the indemnity and defense obligations contained in this Section 5.3 do not include indemnification for any exemplary or punitive damages under any applicable law or otherwise.

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Section 5.4      Redelivery of Gas . DBM AGREES TO ASSUME ALL LIABILITY FOR, AND AGREES TO PROTECT, DEFEND, RELEASE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS AEP’S INDEMNITEES AGAINST, ANY COSTS, EXPENSES, LOSSES, DAMAGES AND LIABILITIES TO THE EXTENT CAUSED BY DBM’S DELIVERY OF GAS (WHETHER SOURCED FROM NON-CONFORMING GAS OR CONFORMING GAS) TO A DOWNSTREAM TRANSPORTER THAT DOES NOT CONFORM TO SUCH DOWNSTREAM TRANSPORTERS’ QUALITY SPECIFICATIONS, but only to the extent AEP delivered into DBM’s System Gas conforming to the Specifications or DBM knowingly accepted AEP’s Non-Conforming Gas. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will DBM be responsible for the payment of AEP’s or its Affiliates’ Consequential Damages, and AEP hereby waives any and all claims it may have against DBM for such Consequential Damages on behalf of itself or its Affiliates, arising in connection with this Agreement, REGARDLESS OF FAULT . Further, the Parties understand and agree that the indemnity and defense obligations contained in this Section 5.4 do not include indemnification for any exemplary or punitive damages under any applicable law or otherwise.
ARTICLE VI
GATHERING RATE
Section 6.1     Fees . For the services provided herein, DBM will charge AEP the following fees:
(a)     Gathering Fee: DBM will charge AEP a fee (in $/Mcf or $/MMBtu as applicable) that will apply to all AEP’s Gas received at the Point(s) of Receipt as set out below (the “ Gathering Fee ”). The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Gathering Fee set forth in this Section 6.1(a) includes DBM’s recovery of and return on capital, while the other fees in this Agreement only include recovery of non-capital costs. Therefore, capital costs associated with such other fees will be included in the cost of service calculation pursuant to Section 6.3 . For example, capital expense for compression facilities will be included in the cost of service calculation pursuant to Section 6.3 notwithstanding the Compression Fee in Section 6.1(c) .
(i)    The Gathering Fee for Lean Gas shall be $***/MMBtu (“ Lean Gathering Fee ”).
(ii)    The Gathering Fee for Rich Gas receiving High Pressure Service (“ HP Rich Gathering Fee ”) and Gathering Fee for Rich Gas receiving Low Pressure Service (“ LP Rich Gathering Fee ”) shall be as follows:
Calendar Year
HP Rich Gathering Fee
LP Rich Gathering Fee
2018-2027
$***/Mcf
Cost of service as determined by DBM each calendar year pursuant to Section 6.3  below; subject to adjustment by the Rate Reduction Incentive set out in Section 6.4  below.
2028-2032
$***/Mcf
Fixed rate equal to $***/Mcf.


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(b)     CO 2 Treating Fee: DBM will charge AEP a fee (per Mcf) that will apply to all AEP’s Gas received at the Point(s) of Receipt in accordance with this Agreement containing more than *** mole percent (***%) carbon dioxide according to the following table (the “ CO 2 Treating Fee ”), provided that DBM’s acceptance of Gas that contains carbon dioxide in excess of the Specifications shall not be deemed a waiver of any of DBM’s rights and remedies under this Agreement.
CO 2 Content
(mole %)
Total CO 2  Treating Fee
($/Mcf)
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***

(c)     Compression Fee : DBM will charge AEP a fee equal to $*** per Mcf for each stage of compression for compressing AEP’s Gas (the “ Compression Fee ”). For example, if 1 Mcf of gas receives three (3) stages of compression, the total Compression Fee shall be equal to $*** per Mcf.
(d)     H 2 S Disposal Fee: DBM will charge AEP a fee (per Mcf) will apply to all AEP’s Gas received at the Point(s) of Receipt in accordance with this Agreement containing more than *** (***) PPM by volume of hydrogen sulfide according to the following table (the “ H 2 S Disposal Fee ”), provided that DBM’s acceptance of Gas that contains hydrogen sulfide in excess of the Specifications shall not be deemed a waiver of any of DBM’s rights and remedies under this Agreement:

H 2 S (PPM)
Total H 2 S Disposal Fee ($/Mcf)
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***


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Section 6.2     Electricity Costs Recovery . The Parties agree that if, after the Effective Date, DBM utilizes electricity or other energy sources to power Gas compressors or other operational facilities to provide the services hereunder, then the Parties will amend this Agreement as necessary to provide DBM with the opportunity to recover the cost of such electricity or other energy sources. .
Section 6.3     Cost of Service . The LP Rich Gathering Fee ($/Mcf) for the System shall be a cost of service-based rate determined such that the annual sum of revenue less expenses less capital (“ Free Cash Flows ”), when discounted at *** percent (***%), sum to a net present value of zero (the “ IRR Calculation ”). The IRR Calculation shall use all Free Cash Flows from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2027. The IRR Calculation will utilize Excel’s XNPV and XIRR formula functions and assume mid-year discounting.
The LP Rich Gathering Rate shall be redetermined annually, effective on January 1st, by DBM to generate the IRR Calculation the (“ Annual Rate Redetermination ”). Actual volumes, revenues (including the revenues from the fees set forth in Section 6.1 above ), expenses and capital will be used from January 1, 2008 up to the current year (“ Actualized Data ”), provided that estimates may be used for the immediately preceding year to the extent that actual volumes, revenues, expenses and/or capital are unavailable. Forecasted volumes, revenues (including the revenues from the fees set forth in Section 6.1 above ), expenses and capital (“ Forecast ”) will be used for the current year forward. In the event the Forecast is not available in time to make the Annual Rate Redetermination for the current year’s January billing cycle, the immediately preceding year’s rate will be extended until such time as the adjusted rate can be determined which will then be deemed to be effective January 1 of the current year. Notwithstanding the above and for the avoidance of doubt, adjustments to any prior period Actualized Data shall be incorporated in the Annual Rate Redetermination.
An example of the output of the model used to calculate the cost of service rate is included as Exhibit “F” hereto.
Section 6.4     Rate Reduction Incentive . For each Incentive Period shown on the following table, if AEP delivers and DBM receives a volume of Rich Gas (in Mcf) at the Point(s) of Receipt greater than or equal to the applicable Cumulative Volume Threshold, then the corresponding Rate Reduction shall apply to the LP Rich Gathering Fee in the applicable Rate Reduction Period. The Rate Reductions are cumulative and shall be applied such that the LP Rich Gathering Fee is calculated to achieve the target IRR and then the LP Rich Gathering fee is reduced by the applicable Rate Reduction(s). For example, if AEP achieves the Cumulative Volume Threshold in each of the three (3) Incentive Periods, then the LP Rich Gathering Fee shall be reduced by $***/Mcf ( i.e. , 3 x $***/Mcf) in 2027.
Incentive Period
Years Included
Cumulative Volume Threshold (Mcf)
Rate Reduction
Rate Reduction Period
1
2018-2024
***
$***/Mcf
2025-2027
2
2018-2025
***
$***/Mcf
2026-2027
3
2018-2026
***
$***/Mcf
2027


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Section 6.5     Escalation. The LP Rich Gathering Fee will adjust on January 1, 2029 and each January 1st thereafter by multiplying the then current fee by ***. Each of the other fees set forth in Section 6.1 will adjust on January 1, 2033 and each January 1st thereafter by multiplying the then current fee by ***.

ARTICLE VII
MEASUREMENT AND TESTS
Section 7.1     Measurement Equipment . DBM will install, own, operate and maintain industry standard type measurement equipment necessary to measure AEP’s Gas gathered at each Point of Receipt. The volume of Gas will be measured by a primary and secondary/tertiary measurement device that is accepted by industry, state, and federal regulatory agencies. The most common primary devices are orifice or ultrasonic meter tubes. These devices shall comply with the American Petroleum Institute – Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards, Chapter 14.3 (latest revision), and American Gas Association Reports No. 3 and No. 9 (latest revisions), where applicable. The secondary measurement device shall be an electronic flow meter (“ EFM ”) that includes a temperature recording system. The EFM shall meet and be capable of performing volume calculations according to the current standards prescribed in the American Gas Association Report No. 3, Orifice Metering of Natural Gas and Other Hydrocarbon Fluids, Parts 1-4 (latest revisions), and shall comply with the American Petroleum Institute – Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards, Chapter 21, Section 1 – Electronic Gas Measurement (latest revision).
Section 7.2     Meter Testing . DBM will test the measurement equipment in service at least semi-annually. AEP shall have the right to request that DBM test (at AEP’s sole cost and expense) the measurement equipment between the regular semi-annual tests.
Section 7.3     Equipment Inaccuracies . If, upon any test, the measurement equipment at any Points of Receipt is found to be inaccurate, and the average hourly inaccuracy in the computed receipts is not more than *** percent (***%) of the average hourly rate of Gas flow on the Day of the most recent accurate test, then previously calculated receipts will be considered correct in computing the deliveries of AEP’s Gas under this Agreement, but such equipment will immediately be adjusted to record accurately. If, upon any test, the measurement equipment is found to be inaccurate, and the average hourly inaccuracy in the computed receipts is more than *** percent (***%) of the average hourly rate of Gas flow on the Day of the most recent accurate test, then any previous recordings of such equipment will be corrected to zero error for any period which is known definitely or agreed upon. If such period is not known definitely or agreed upon, then such correction will be made for one half the period since the date of the last meter test, but in no event shall any adjustment extend back beyond six (6) Months from the date the error was first made known by one Party to the other, so long as the meter testing is in compliance with Section 7.2 .

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Section 7.4     AEP Meters . AEP will be entitled to install and operate, at its own expense; at any Points of Receipt an industry standard meter such as will enable AEP to check the volume of AEP’s Gas delivered at such Point. Should Gas pulsation problems occur upstream of DBM’s meter at a Point of Receipt, AEP will promptly take all actions necessary to mitigate such pulsation. If AEP exercises this right of installing and operating a check meter, then, in the event of failure of DBM’s meter to register accurately at any time, the registration of AEP’s check meter, if accurately indicating within the tolerances provided above, will be used to determine the volume of Gas delivered to DBM until such time as DBM’s meter is adjusted, repaired, or replaced. If AEP’s check meter is used for the purpose of determining the quantity and/or quality of Gas delivered to DBM, AEP’s meter will be tested at least semi-annually. DBM shall have the right to request that AEP test (at DBM’s sole cost and expense) such check meter between the regular semi-annual tests.
Section 7.5     Remedies for Meter Failure or Repair . If DBM’s meter is out of repair or is being tested, or if DBM’s meter becomes inoperative and manifestly in error, and AEP has not installed a check meter as herein provided, or if such check meter has been installed and fails to record accurately, then the volume of AEP’s Gas delivered during the period DBM’s meter was inoperative will be determined upon the basis of the best data available, using one of the following methods:
(a)    by correcting the error if the percentage of error is ascertainable by calibration, test or mathematical calculation; or
(b)    if the percentage of error is not ascertainable by calibration, test or mathematical calculation, then by determining the volume delivered by reference to deliveries during the most recent preceding period under similar conditions when the meter was registering accurately.
Section 7.6     AEP Volume Measurement . The quantity of AEP’s Gas received will be determined as follows:
(a)    The unit of volume for measurement of Gas delivered hereunder shall be one thousand (1,000) Cubic feet of Gas at a base temperature of sixty degrees Fahrenheit (60°F) and at an absolute pressure base of 14.65 psia.
(b)    The average absolute atmospheric (barometric) pressure will be assumed to be 13.2 pounds per square inch irrespective of actual elevation or location of the Points of Receipt above sea level or variations in actual barometric pressure from time to time.
(c)    The arithmetic average determined to the nearest 1° Fahrenheit of the temperatures recorded each day, or a fraction of such day if AEP’s Gas is not delivered continuously during such day, will be used in calculating the AEP’s Gas volume. If for any reason DBM’s recording thermometer is out of service, AEP’s recording thermometer, if one is installed and operative, will be used in the calculation of the AEP’s Gas volume.
(d)    Deviation from Boyle’s Law at the pressure, specific gravity and temperatures upon delivery shall be calculated as outlined or described in American Gas Association Report No. 8, Compressibility Factors of Natural Gas and Other Related Hydrocarbon Gases and any supplements thereto and modifications thereof as mutually agreed to by the Parties.

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(e)    In determining the volume of AEP’s Gas delivered through the meter during a daily period, an EFM will be programmed with the applicable factors and will be used in determining the volume of AEP’s Gas delivered through the meter on a real time basis. Such EFM will be of standard manufacture.
(f)    DBM shall determine the Gas stream composition, specific gravity, and gross Heating Values based on any of the following: spot samples, composite samples, on-line Gas chromatograph analysis or portable Gas chromatograph analysis. The component analysis of the Gas shall be performed by Gas chromatography in accordance with Gas Processor’s Association Standards 2261 and 2172 (latest revisions). Gas samples shall be obtained in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Gas Processor’s Association Standard 2166, Obtaining Natural Gas Samples for Analysis by Gas Chromatography (latest revision), and American Petroleum Institute – Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards, Chapter 14.1, Section 1 (latest revision). Samples will be taken not less than quarterly, but may be taken more often if deemed necessary by DBM or reasonably requested by AEP, provided that AEP shall be responsible for the costs of collecting and testing any additional samples taken at its request.
(g)    Tests for the oxygen, carbon dioxide, sulphur, and hydrogen sulfide content of the Gas delivered hereunder shall be made as often as deemed necessary by DBM, by means commonly used and accepted in the industry.
Section 7.7     Representative Present at Testing . AEP and DBM will have the right to have representatives present at any time that the other’s measurement equipment is installed, read, cleaned, changed, repaired, inspected, calibrated, or adjusted or at any time AEP’s Gas is sampled or tested. AEP and DBM will each give the other reasonable notice prior to the time of all tests so that the other may conveniently have its representatives present. Measurement and testing records will remain the property of their owner, but upon request each Party will submit to the other its records and charts, together with calculations therefrom, for inspection and verification, subject to return within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof.
Section 7.8     Data Retention . Each Party will preserve for the use of both Parties, for a period of two (2) years, all test data, charts, and other similar records pertaining to the gathering of AEP’s Gas.
Section 7.9     Settlement Data . DBM shall provide to AEP or AEP’s designee information reasonably sufficient to allow AEP or its designee to allocate gas processing products ( i.e. , residue gas, condensates, natural gas liquids) to each Point of Receipt.
ARTICLE VIII
BILLINGS AND PAYMENT
Section 8.1     Invoice . On or before the last Day of the Month following the Month of receipt and delivery of AEP’s Gas, DBM shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, a statement and invoice to AEP showing the quantity of AEP’s Gas received at each Point of Receipt, the total quantity of Gas delivered at the Point(s) of Delivery, the applicable Heating Value, and the total amount due DBM. On or before the tenth (10th) Day following the date DBM’s invoice is sent (the “ Due Date ”), AEP shall make payment to DBM at the address shown in Article X hereof. If AEP, in good faith, disputes the amount of any such statement and invoice or any part thereof, AEP shall pay such amount as it concedes

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to be correct; provided , however , that if AEP disputes the amount due, it must provide supporting documentation acceptable in industry practice to support the amount paid or disputed. In the event the Parties are unable to resolve such dispute, either Party may pursue any remedy available at law or in equity to enforce its rights pursuant to this Section 8.1 . If AEP is ultimately determined to owe any unpaid, disputed amount, it shall also pay interest on such amount as determined pursuant to Section 8.2 .
Section 8.2     Interest . Commencing on the Day following the Due Date, interest shall accrue on any unpaid balance at the “Prime Rate” per annum published daily in the Wall Street Journal in the “Money Rates” column, plus *** percent (***%), until same is paid, compounded quarterly; provided , however , that such rate shall not exceed the maximum lawful rate established in the state where the Delivery Point(s) is/are located. In the event the Prime Rate plus *** percent (***%) exceeds the maximum lawful rate, the applicable interest rate shall be the maximum lawful rate. Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 365 (or 366, as the case may be) day-year for the actual Days elapsed.
Section 8.3     Books & Records . Each Party shall have the right at reasonable hours to examine the books, records, EGM data and charts of the other Party to the extent necessary to verify the accuracy of any statement, charge, computation, or payment made pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. Any such examination shall be conducted during normal business hours and in the appropriate office of the Party owning such books, records, EGM data and charts, as mutually agreed to by DBM and AEP. If any such examination reveals any inaccuracy in any billing or payment theretofore made, the necessary adjustment in such billing and payment shall be promptly made, provided that no adjustment for any billing shall be made and payments shall be considered final after the lapse of two (2) years from the rendition thereof, except to the extent that either Party has noted a specific exception to the other Party in writing during that period.
ARTICLE IX
TERM
Section 9.1    This Agreement shall become effective as of the Effective Date first written above, and shall remain in full force and effect for a primary term of fifteen (15) years (the “ Primary Term ”), and continue from year to year thereafter (each an “ Annual Renewal ”), unless terminated by either Party at the expiration of the primary term, or any year thereafter, by providing not less than ninety (90) days prior written notice to the other Party. The Primary Term and all Annual Renewals are, together, (the “ Term ”). Termination of this Agreement shall not relieve either Party from any obligations previously accrued hereunder.
ARTICLE X
NOTICES
Section 10.1    All notices authorized or required between the Parties, and required by any of the provisions of this Agreement, shall be effective when received, unless otherwise specifically provided, be given in writing by United States mail, postage or charges prepaid, overnight delivery sent by email as long as confirmed by a non-automated reply, or telefax with printed confirmation, and addressed to the Party to whom the notice is given at the following respective addresses:

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If to DBM
Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC
1201 Lake Robbins Drive
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
FAX:    (832)636-5130
Email: MidstreamCS@Anadarko.com
Attn.:    Midstream Contract Administration

If to AEP
Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC
1201 Lake Robbins Drive
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
FAX:    (832) 636-5130
Email: MidstreamCS@Anadarko.com
Attn.:    Midstream Contract Administration
Either Party may change any address under this Article V by giving prior written notice to the other Party.
ARTICLE XI
FORCE MAJEURE
Section 11.1     Force Majeure . Except for a Party’s failure to make payments as required hereunder, neither Party shall be liable to the other Party for failure to perform any of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement to the extent such performance is hindered, delayed or prevented by Force Majeure.
Section 11.2     Notice . A Party unable, in whole or in part, to carry out its obligations under this Agreement due to Force Majeure shall deliver notice to the other Party. A Party’s initial notice of Force Majeure may be delivered in non-written form, provided that written notification with reasonably full particulars of the event or occurrence is delivered as soon as reasonably possible.
Section 11.3     Reasonable Efforts . A Party claiming Force Majeure shall diligently pursue all reasonable efforts to remove the cause, condition, event or circumstance of Force Majeure, shall promptly deliver notice to the other Party of the termination of conditions of Force Majeure, and shall resume performance of any suspended obligation as soon as reasonably possible after termination of such Force Majeure.
Section 11.4     Definition . For purposes herein, “Force Majeure” means causes, conditions, events or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Party claiming Force Majeure. Such causes, conditions, events and circumstances include a ***, acts of God, terrorism, strikes, lockouts or other industrial disturbances, acts of the public enemy, wars, blockades, insurrections, riots, epidemics, landslides, lightning, earthquakes, fires, storms, floods, washouts, arrests and restraints of rulers and people, arrests and restraints of federal, state, tribal or local governmental or judicial authorities, the inability to obtain necessary materials or supplies at reasonable market costs, the inability to obtain necessary permits due to existing or future rules, orders and laws of federal, state, tribal or local governmental or judicial authorities, interruptions by federal, state, tribal or local government or court

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orders, present and future orders of any regulatory body having proper jurisdiction, civil disturbances, explosions, sabotage, and partial or entire loss of market. Breakage of or accident to machinery or lines of pipe, the necessity for making inspections, maintenance (planned or unplanned), repairs, replacements, relocations or alterations to machinery or lines of pipe, freezing of wells or lines of pipe, and partial or entire failure of wells are Force Majeure events if the Party claiming Force Majeure has not caused the event and the cause of the event was out of the control of such Party. Force Majeure includes any other causes, whether of the kind enumerated herein or otherwise not within the control of the Party claiming Force Majeure and which by the exercise of due diligence such Party is unable to overcome, such as the inability to acquire, or delays in acquiring, at reasonable market cost and after the exercise of reasonable diligence, any servitude, right-of-way grants, permits, or licenses required to be obtained to enable such Party to fulfill its obligations hereunder. A Party may not claim an event of Force Majeure due to such Party’s inability to be profitable, to secure funds, to arrange bank loans or other financing, or to obtain credit.
ARTICLE XII
INDEMNITY
Section 12.1     Indemnification by AEP . Subject to Section 12. 3 and to the indemnity obligations in Sections 4.4 and 5.3 , but notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, AEP AGREES TO ASSUME ALL LIABILITY FOR AND AGREES TO PROTECT, DEFEND, RELEASE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD DBM, AND VENTURERS, GENERAL PARTNER AND AFFILIATED COMPANIES, IF ANY, AND THEIR DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, INSURERS AND THEIR SUBCONTRACTORS OF EVERY TIER AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, (HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS DBM INDEMNITEES OR DBM’S INDEMNITEES ), FREE AND HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LOSSES, CLAIMS, LIENS, DEMANDS AND CAUSES OF ACTION OF EVERY KIND AND CHARACTER, (EXCEPT PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES) INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE AMOUNTS OF JUDGMENTS, PENALTIES, INTEREST, COURT COSTS, INVESTIGATION EXPENSES AND COSTS AND ATTORNEY’S AND LEGAL FEES INCURRED BY DBM INDEMNITEES, IN DEFENSE OF SAME, ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH:
(i) BODILY INJURY AND/OR DEATH TO AEP’S EMPLOYEES, AEP’S SUBCONTRACTORS OF EVERY TIER AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND AEP’S INVITEES;
(ii) DAMAGE TO THE PROPERTY OF AEP’S EMPLOYEES AND AEP’S SUBCONTRACTORS OF EVERY TIER AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND AEP’S INVITEES; AND/OR
(iii) DAMAGE TO OR LOSS OR DESTRUCTION OF AEP’S PROPERTY;ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CAUSE OR CAUSES OF ANY CLAIM, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CLAIMS CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY THE NEGLIGENCE (WHETHER SOLE, JOINT, CONCURRENT, COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY, ACTIVE, PASSIVE, GROSS, OR OTHERWISE), WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHER FAULT, OF ANY MEMBER OF

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DBM INDEMNITEES, AEP INDEMNITEES AND/OR INVITEES OR THIRD PARTIES, AND WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION ( REGARDLESS OF FAULT ).
The indemnity obligations set forth in this paragraph shall include any medical, compensation, or other benefits paid by any member of DBM Indemnitees and shall apply even if the employee is determined to be the borrowed or statutory employee of any member of DBM Indemnitees.
Section 12.2     Indemnification by DBM . Subject to Section 12.3 and to the indemnity obligations in Section 5.4 , but notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, DBM AGREES TO ASSUME ALL LIABILITY FOR AND AGREES TO PROTECT, DEFEND, RELEASE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD AEP, ITS JOINT OWNERS AND VENTURERS, GENERAL PARTNER AND AFFILIATED COMPANIES, IF ANY, ITS AND THEIR DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, INSURERS AND ITS SUBCONTRACTORS OF ANY TIER AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, (HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS AEP INDEMNITEES OR AEP’S INDEMNITEES ), FREE AND HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LOSSES, CLAIMS, LIENS, DEMANDS AND CAUSES OF ACTION OF EVERY KIND AND CHARACTER, (EXCEPT PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES) INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE AMOUNTS OF JUDGMENTS, PENALTIES, INTEREST, COURT COSTS, INVESTIGATION EXPENSES AND COSTS AND ATTORNEY’S AND LEGAL FEES INCURRED BY AEP INDEMNITEES, IN DEFENSE OF SAME, ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH:
(i) BODILY INJURY AND/OR DEATH TO DBM’S EMPLOYEES, DBM’S SUBCONTRACTORS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND DBM’S INVITEES;
(ii) DAMAGE TO THE PROPERTY OF DBM’S EMPLOYEES AND DBM’S SUBCONTRACTORS OF EVERY TIER AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, AND DBM’S INVITEES; AND/OR
(iii) DAMAGE TO OR LOSS OR DESTRUCTION OF DBM’S PROPERTY;
ARISING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT, REGARDLESS OF FAULT.
The indemnity obligations set forth in this paragraph shall include any medical, compensation, or other benefits paid by any member of AEP Indemnitees and shall apply even if the employee is determined to be the borrowed or statutory employee of any member of AEP Indemnitees.
Section 12.3     Waiver of Damages . Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement does not authorize one Party to sue for or collect from the other Party its own special, consequential losses or indirect damages, lost profits, loss of revenue, loss of savings, loss or deferment of production, loss of use, loss of Agreement, or business interruption whether or not the foregoing are direct or indirect (collectively “ Consequential Damages ”) and each Party hereby waives on behalf of itself and its Affiliates any and all claims it may have against the other Party and its Affiliates and agrees to indemnify the other Party and its Affiliates from and against all claims, for its own and its Affiliates’ Consequential Damages, arising in connection with this Agreement, Regardless of Fault.

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Furthermore the Parties understand and agree that the indemnity obligations contained in this Agreement do not include indemnification for punitive or exemplary damages under any law or otherwise.
Section 12.4     Insurance . In support of the indemnity obligations contained in this Agreement, each Party shall carry coverage and amounts of liability insurance of no less than $*** per occurrence. To the extent of the liabilities assumed by the named insured herein, each Party will require their insurers to waive their right of subrogation against and add as additional insured AEP Indemnitees or DBM Indemnitees, whichever is applicable. AEP shall have the right to self-insure all or any portion of the insurance required herein, and the liability insurance may be a combination of primary insurance and excess insurance coverage.
ARTICLE XIII
REGULATIONS AND CHOICE OF LAW
Section 13.1     Laws . This Agreement is subject to all valid orders, laws, rules and regulations of duly constituted governmental authorities having jurisdiction or control over the Parties, their facilities or Gas supplies, this Agreement or any provisions hereof. If at any time during the period of gathering of Gas hereunder, any such governmental authority shall take or threaten to take any action as to any Party whereby the delivery, gathering, and redelivery of Gas, as contemplated hereunder, shall be proscribed or possibly subjected to terms, conditions, restraints or regulations (including without limitation by enumeration, rate or price controls or ceilings) that, in the sole judgment of the Party affected would be adverse or unduly burdensome to that Party, such Party may, upon written notice, terminate this Agreement without further liability, except as to obligations previously accrued.
Section 13.2     Choice of Law . As to all matters of construction and interpretation, this Agreement shall be interpreted, construed and governed by the laws of the State of Texas without reference to the law regarding conflicts of law, and the venue to resolve any dispute hereunder shall be Houston, Texas. Each Party expressly waives all rights to a trial by jury for disputes arising from or under this Agreement.
ARTICLE XIV
WARRANTY
Section 14.1     Warranty . AEP hereby warrants title to or the right to deliver AEP’s Gas tendered to DBM under this Agreement, and AEP agrees to indemnify DBM from all suits, actions, accounts, damages, costs, losses and expenses arising from or out of adverse claims of any or all persons regarding said Gas, its components royalties, taxes, fees, or charges thereon.

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Section 14.2     Suspension . DBM may, in addition to and without waiving any other rights hereunder, immediately suspend its services hereunder in the event that it has reason to believe either (i) that there is a title dispute as to Gas AEP delivered, or (ii) that any Gas delivered by AEP is being produced or delivered in violation of applicable regulations.
ARTICLE XV
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 15.1     Assignment . This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and assigns. However, neither Party may transfer or assign, in whole or in part, this Agreement or its rights and obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed; provided , however , that either Party will have the right to assign, in whole or in part, this Agreement or its rights and obligations hereunder to an Affiliate upon notice to, but without the consent of, the other Party. An assigning Party will not be released from its obligations under this Agreement unless the assignee of the Agreement expressly assumes the obligations of the assigning Party hereunder. No permitted assignment will affect or bind either Party until such Party has been provided notice and a copy of such assignment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties agree and acknowledge that DBM’s consent to an AEP assignment, in whole or in part, of this Agreement in connection with the sale, transfer, or other conveyance of any Dedicated Lands to an unaffiliated third party shall be expressly conditioned upon said Dedicated Lands being subject to and bound by a Transportation Interest as described herein. For the avoidance of doubt, any transaction (or series of transactions) which results in any Dedicated Lands no longer being owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (or any successor thereof) shall be deemed a transfer of such Dedicated Lands requiring DBM’s consent and the grant of a Transportation Interest hereunder. The granting of the Transportation Interest by AEP (or unaffiliated third party if approved by DBM) shall be binding upon such unaffiliated third party and shall be in accordance with the general terms set forth below:
(a)
For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which will be acknowledged, AEP will, to the maximum extent it has the right to do so, grant, bargain, sell, convey, transfer, assign and deliver unto DBM, from a time before the assignment until the end of the Term, unless earlier reverted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the sole and exclusive right to transport Gas from AEP’s assigned Dedicated Lands, specifically the right to gather, dehydrate, compress, meter and measure Gas that may be produced and saved therefrom (the Transportation Interests ).
(b)
At the end of the Term or upon the earlier termination of this Agreement as to any Dedicated Lands in accordance with any express provision of this Agreement, all of DBM’s Transportation Interests applicable to such Dedicated Lands will revert automatically to AEP (or its assignee, as appropriate) or the other applicable owners thereof, and DBM shall execute and deliver to AEP (or its assignee, as appropriate) a recordable release and quitclaim in and to any rights, including Transportation Interests, in such Dedicated Lands.

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(c)
The Transportation Interests conveyed to DBM will be subject to (i) the terms and conditions of this Agreement and (ii) with respect to third party non-operated interests, the rights (if any) of the owners of such interests to take in kind their share of Gas produced from the Dedicated Lands.
(d)
DBM and AEP agree, and the conveyance document shall affirmatively state, that (i) the rights and obligations respecting the Dedication and the Transportation Interest constitute a covenant running with the Interest of AEP in the Dedicated Lands, and as such shall be binding upon and enforceable by each Party and its permitted successors and assigns against the other Party and its successors and assigns respecting any part of a subject interest so assigned or conveyed, (ii) DBM and AEP intend that the conveyance of the Transportation Interests be a conveyance of a portion of AEP’s real property interests included in the Dedicated Lands (including the interests of others whose interests are represented or controlled by AEP insofar only as AEP has the power and authority to grant a Transportation Interest in the interests of such third parties), and (iii) DBM has a determinable real property interest carved out of the Dedicated Lands.
(e)
In connection with the release of Transportation Interests, if any, DBM and AEP shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may become reasonably necessary or appropriate to effectuate the reversion of such Transportation Interests.
(f)
AEP shall (and shall cause its Affiliates to) cause any conveyance of part or all of an Interest in the Dedicated Lands to be made expressly subject to this Transportation Interest and to cause all transferees to execute a written instrument in a form reasonably satisfactory to DBM acknowledging the conveyance of the Transportation Interests. DBM shall likewise cause any assignment or conveyance of the Transportation Interests to be made expressly subject to this Agreement. DBM and AEP shall promptly execute, acknowledge, deliver and record in the land records of the applicable jurisdiction(s) a short form Transportation Interest Conveyance in the form of Exhibit “H” (the “ Conveyance ”).
Section 15.2     Agreement Structure . All references in this Agreement to Articles, Sections, sub-Sections, Exhibits and other subdivisions refer to corresponding Articles, Sections, sub-Sections, Exhibits and other subdivisions of this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise. Titles appearing at the beginning of any of such subdivisions are for convenience only and will not constitute part of such subdivisions and will be disregarded in construing the language contained in such subdivisions. The words “this Agreement”, “herein”, “hereof”, “hereby”, “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. Words in the singular form will be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. Pronouns in masculine, feminine and neuter genders will be construed to include any other gender. Examples will not be construed to limit, expressly or by implication, the matter they illustrate. The word “or” is not intended to be exclusive and the word “includes” and its derivatives means “includes, but is not limited to” and corresponding derivative expressions. No consideration will be given to the fact or presumption that one Party had a greater or lesser hand in drafting this Agreement.

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Section 15.3     Governmental Action . If at any time after the Effective Date of this Agreement, a governmental, quasi-governmental, judicial or other authority, whether federal, state, local, international, or otherwise, takes or threatens to take any action or inaction as to any Party to this Agreement whereby the Gas, other hydrocarbon or inert substances, or any components thereof, or the transportation, or other services related thereto, will be proscribed or possibly subjected to terms, conditions, charges, fees, taxes, levies, imposts, restraints, regulations, or costs, including, without limitation, rate or price controls or ceilings, emissions or component allowances or burdens, or any other actions that would make it materially economically burdensome for one or more of the Parties, any affected Party may, upon at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to the other Party, require good faith renegotiation of the terms of this Agreement to cure, alleviate, or apportion such economic burden between the Parties. If such renegotiation does not result in mutually agreeable amended terms within sixty (60) Days following the beginning of such negotiations, the affected Party shall have the right, but not the obligation, upon at least thirty (30) Days’ additional written notice to the other Party, to terminate this Agreement.
Section 15.4     Adequate Assurance of Performance . When reasonable grounds for insecurity of payment arise, either Party may demand adequate assurance of performance. Adequate assurance shall mean sufficient security in the form and for the term reasonably specified by the Party demanding assurance, including, but not limited to, a standby irrevocable letter of credit or a prepayment, a security interest in an asset acceptable to the demanding Party or a performance bond or guarantee by a creditworthy entity. If a Party fails to provide adequate assurance of performance within three (3) business Days after receipt of the other Party’s request, then the requesting Party will have the right to suspend or reduce all services and obligations under this Agreement without prior notice and without limiting any other rights or remedies available to it under this Agreement or otherwise. If after initial failure to provide adequate assurance of performance a Party fails to cure the default by providing adequate assurance of performance within two (2) business Days, then the requesting Party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement with five (5) Days’ prior written notice to the other Party, in addition to any and all other remedies available hereunder.
Section 15.5     Unpaid Amounts . DBM may immediately suspend receipts from AEP hereunder in the event AEP has not paid any amount due DBM hereunder on or before the thirtieth (30 th ) Day following the date such payment is due or if AEP is in material breach of this Agreement. Each Party reserves to itself all other rights, set-offs, counterclaims, and other defenses which it is or may be entitled to arising from this Agreement.
Section 15.6     Conspicuousness . Each Party agrees that, to the extent required by applicable law to be effective, the provisions in this Agreement in bold-type are conspicuous for the purpose of any applicable law.
Section 15.7     Amendment . Any change, modification or alteration of this Agreement shall be in writing and signed by the Parties; and, no course of dealing between the Parties shall be construed to alter the terms of this Agreement.

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Section 15.8     No Third Party Beneficiaries . The terms and provisions of this Agreement are for the sole benefit of AEP and DBM, and no third party is intended to benefit other than persons entitled to indemnification hereunder.
Section 15.9     Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between and among the Parties regarding the subject matter of this Agreement, and supersedes any other agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or between the Parties relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 15.10     Further Assurances . The Parties agree to execute such additional documents, instruments, and agreements as may be necessary to effectuate the intents and purposes of this Agreement.
Section 15.11     Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be considered an original, and all of which shall be considered one instrument.
Section 15.12     Confidentiality . The Parties agree that this Agreement and all related information and data exchanged by them shall be maintained in strict and absolute confidence and no Party shall make any public disclosure thereof, except for disclosure: (i) pursuant to the contemplated (in good faith) or actual sale, disposition or other transfer (directly or indirectly) of a Party’s rights and interest in and to this Agreement, the System, or the Gas; (ii) pursuant to the contemplated (in good faith) or actual sale or other transfer (directly or indirectly) of all or substantially all of the assets of a Party; (iii) pursuant to the contemplated (in good faith) or actual sale, disposition or other transfer (directly or indirectly) of all of the equity interests of a Party; (iv) in conjunction with a contemplated (in good faith) or actual merger, consolidation, share exchange or other form of statutory reorganization involving a Party; (v) to co-owners of the Gas, consultants, accountants, rating agencies, royalty interest owners, lenders, insurers, investors, attorneys or other representatives with a need to know such information, provided that the disclosing Party shall remain liable for any use or disclosure by such receiving person(s) which the disclosing Party was not otherwise permitted to make pursuant to this Agreement; or (vi) as required to make disclosure in compliance with any applicable law or national securities exchange rule or requirement, in which event the disclosing Party shall notify the other Party as soon as practicable.
Section 15.13    It is the Parties’ express intent that neither this Agreement nor any course of conduct or course of performance hereunder constitutes or may be construed to constitute or create a joint venture, partnership, or any other similar arrangement between the Parties.
Section 15.14    If any provision herein is found to be unenforceable, or is required to be modified by a court or governmental authority, then only such unenforceable or modified provision is affected, and the remaining provisions herein are fully enforceable and without modification.
Section 15.15    The provisions herein survive termination of the Agreement only if expressly required to survive, or are otherwise required by their context to survive termination.


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year written on the signature page hereto, to be effective as of the Effective Date.

DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
 
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Gennifer F. Kelly
 
By:
/s/ Chad R. McAllaster
Name:
Gennifer F. Kelly
 
Name:
Chad R. McAllaster
Title:
SVP and COO
 
Title:
VP, Delaware Basin Development
Date:
October 8, 2018
 
Date:
October 2, 2018

27




EXHIBIT “A”

GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT
DATED JANUARY 1, 2018
BY AND BETWEEN
DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
AND
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC

Lean Gas Point(s) of Receipt











*** *** ***





















A -1




EXHIBIT “B”
GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT
DATED JANUARY 1, 2018
BY AND BETWEEN
DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
AND
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC



DBM’s Point(s) Of Delivery





*** *** ***




















B -1




EXHIBIT “C”

GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT
DATED JANUARY 1, 2018
BY AND BETWEEN
DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
AND
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC

GAS NOMINATIONS AND BALANCING

Daily Nominations . AEP shall nominate by 10:30 a.m. five (5) Business Days prior to each Month, through DBM’s written nomination form and in accordance with DBM’s nomination procedures, the quantity of Gas per Day (“ Daily Nominated Quantity ”) that AEP will deliver to DBM at each Point of Receipt and/or receive at each Point of Delivery (or pipeline interconnect, if available) for that Month. DBM, in its reasonable discretion, may accept nominations at such later time as operating conditions permit, and may waive any nomination requirement. Intra-Day or Intra-month nominations will be made in accordance with DBM’s nomination procedures. The quantities to be gathered shall be as agreed to by the Parties (the “ Confirmed Nominations ”). DBM shall have no obligation to gather AEP’s Gas on any Day for which AEP does not have a Confirmed Nomination. AEP shall use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver Gas to the Points of Receipt at a reasonably uniform daily rate of flow.

Right to Balance . The Parties agree that during the term hereof DBM shall have the right to operate its System and to accept and deliver Gas hereunder in such a manner as to maintain balance between receipts and deliveries of Gas subject to this Agreement as closely as possible. DBM will have the right and option (i) to refuse to accept AEP’s Gas in excess of its Confirmed Nominations at the Delivery Point, and (ii) to refuse to accept Gas delivery nominations at the Delivery Point if such nominations exceed the quantity of AEP’s Gas available at the Delivery Point.

C -1




EXHIBIT “D”
GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT
DATED JANUARY 1, 2018
BY AND BETWEEN
DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
AND
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC

Curtailment and Release Procedures
From and after the Effective Date, DBM will provide Firm Service in the System for delivered Gas. DBM shall endeavor to regulate the flow of Gas in the quantities and at the times desired by DBM to prudently operate downstream facilities and/or to meet the fluctuating conditions of DBM’s markets. DBM may curtail service, in whole or in part, on all or any portion or portions of the System, at any time (i) for reasons of Force Majeure incurred by DBM, (ii) when, in DBM’s reasonable judgment, capacity obligations, capacity limitations, or operating conditions so require, (iii) following reasonable notice to AEP, when it is desirable or necessary to make modifications, repairs or operating changes to the System, (iv) due to AEP’s material breach of this Agreement, or (v) for any other reason expressly permitted herein (including, for example, AEP’s delivery of Non-Conforming Gas). In each case, DBM shall use reasonable efforts to identify and curtail only those producers whose Gas is delivered through the particular Receipt Point(s) or portion(s) of the System, which are subject to curtailment. If DBM restricts the flow of AEP’s Gas delivered to the Points of Receipt for any reason, then, subject to DBM’s operational and capacity needs, DBM will endeavor to (y) curtail the gathering and treating of Gas which is entitled to Interruptible Service before curtailing the gathering and treating of Gas which is entitled to Dedication Service or Firm Service; and (z) to curtail the gathering and treating of Gas which is entitled to Dedication Service before curtailing the gathering and treating of Gas which is entitled to Firm Service.
(a)    DBM may, with no liability to AEP, interrupt gathering services as necessary to test, alter, modify, enlarge, or repair any facility or property comprising a part of, appurtenant to, or otherwise relating to the operation of the System. Except in cases of unforeseen emergency, DBM shall give advance notice to AEP of its intention to interrupt services, stating the anticipated timing, duration and magnitude of each interruption in such notice.
(b)    Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, upon commercial operation of any Receipt Point, if DBM fails to take the full quantities of AEP’s Gas at such Points of Receipt (excluding (i) those instances when (A) DBM rejects AEP’s Gas because it fails to meet the quality specifications set forth in Section 5.1 , (B) AEP fails to deliver Gas at a pressure sufficient to enter DBM’s System, and (ii) AEP’s material breach of this Agreement), the amount of Gas not received by DBM at such Points of Receipt shall be temporarily released from this Agreement, and AEP shall have the right to dispose of such Gas in any manner it desires, provided that such release shall terminate, and all of AEP’s Gas will again be subject to this Agreement, at such time as DBM is able to receive such Gas on a consistent basis at such Receipt Point.

D -1




(c)    If (i) DBM suspends, curtails, is unable or fails to take receipt of any volume of AEP’s Dedicated Gas at any Point of Receipt due solely to a Force Majeure event declared by DBM (excluding ***) not caused in part or in whole by AEP, (ii) such suspension, curtailment, or failure continues with respect to the same Force Majeure event declared by DBM for more than *** (***) Days within a year; and (iii) no event has occurred or condition exists that constitutes a material breach or violation of, or a failure to comply with, this Agreement on the part of AEP which remains uncured, then AEP, at its option, may request permanent release of the affected Gas from the Dedication and the Transportation Interests insofar only with respect to such affected Gas by delivering written notice thereof to DBM (which shall be granted within five (5) business Days after DBM’s receipt of such notice). In connection with the release of Transportation Interests pursuant to this Exhibit “D” , DBM and AEP shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may become reasonably necessary or appropriate to effectuate the reversion of Transportation Interests with respect thereto.
(d)    AEP agrees that the Gas received by DBM under this Agreement will constitute part of the supply of Gas from all sources in DBM’s System, and DBM has the right to commingle the Gas delivered by AEP pursuant to this Agreement with other Gas, to deliver molecules different from those received from AEP and, subject to DBM’s obligations hereunder, to handle the molecules received from AEP and others in any manner.
(e)    Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, AEP agrees that the temporary release (set forth in (b) above) and permanent release (set forth in (c) above) shall be the sole and exclusive remedy available to AEP for DBM’s failure(s) for any reason to receive AEP’s Gas at a Point of Receipt.

D -2




EXHIBIT “E”

GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT
DATED JANUARY 1, 2018
BY AND BETWEEN
DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
AND
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC

Dedicated Lands
Notwithstanding the below, the Dedicated Lands shall not include any Interests in lands dedicated to a third party as of the Effective Date including pursuant to the following gas gathering contracts: Anadarko E&P Onshore, LLC and Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC (#20919), Anadarko E&P Onshore, LLC and Anadarko Gathering Company, LLC (#20920), and Anadarko E&P Onshore, LLC and Delaware Basin JV Gathering LLC (#20921), provided that such lands shall automatically become Dedicated Lands, without any action of either party, upon the expiration or termination of such previous dedications. For clarity, neither AEP nor its Affiliates shall be obligated to terminate any prior dedications.




*** *** ***










E -1








 
The following legal description and map of the Dedicated Lands are provided for ease of reference. If there is a conflict between the above list of Dedicated Lands and the following legal descriptions and map, then the above list shall control.

Legal Descriptions of Dedicated Lands




*** *** ***





















E -2













EXHIBIT “E-1”

*** *** ***

EXHIBIT “E-2”

*** *** ***

EXHIBIT “E-3”

*** *** ***

EXHIBIT “E-4”

*** *** ***

EXHIBIT “E-5”

*** *** ***

EXHIBIT “E-6”

*** *** ***

EXHIBIT “E-7”

*** *** ***

EXHIBIT “E-8”

*** *** ***





E -3




EXHIBIT “F”
GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT
DATED JANUARY 1, 2018
BY AND BETWEEN
DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
AND
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC

COST OF SERVICE CALCULATION

The cost of service rate will be calculated pursuant to an Excel model which is maintained in the business records of DBM. This Exhibit “F” includes an example of the output of such model.  AEP has been provided with an overview of such model and an opportunity to ask questions with respect to how it functions.












*** *** ***



















F -1




EXHIBIT “G”
GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT
DATED JANUARY 1, 2018
BY AND BETWEEN
DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
AND
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC

Memorandum of Gas Gathering Agreement
STATE OF TEXAS
§
 
COUNTY OF LOVING
§
 



THIS MEMORANDUM OF GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT (the “ Memorandum ”) is made and entered into between Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC (“ DBM ”), and Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC (“ AEP ”) . Each of DBM and AEP is individually referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the GGA.

WHEREAS , DBM and AEP have entered into that certain Gas Gathering Agreement (the “ GGA ”), dated January 1, 2018, providing for, among other things, the dedication to DBM for gathering of all Gas produced from Interests within the area depicted on, and covered by the legal descriptions described in, Exhibit “1” (the “ Dedicated Lands ”), now owned or hereafter acquired by AEP and/or its Affiliates, and their respective successors and assigns, that is produced from wells within the Dedicated Lands by AEP or its Affiliates; and
WHEREAS , the Parties desire to provide notice to third parties of such dedication under the GGA relating to the Dedicated Lands by entering into this Memorandum.
NOW THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the Parties hereby acknowledge the following:

A.     Dedication. The GGA exclusively dedicates to DBM all Gas located in, under or produced from or attributable to the lands located within the Dedicated Lands to the extent such Gas is produced from wells within the Dedicated Lands and is attributable to Interests now owned by AEP and/or its Affiliates and their respective successors and assigns, subject to the terms of the GGA.
B.     Term of GGA. The initial term of the GGA commenced on January 1, 2018, and shall, unless earlier terminated, remain in full force and effect through December 31, 2032, and from Year to Year thereafter until canceled by either Party.
C.     Successors and Assigns. The GGA is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each Party, its successors and permitted assigns.

G-1



D.     Recordation. Each Party authorizes the other Party to record this Memorandum in the public records of each county where any portion of the Dedicated Lands is located and shall serve as notice of the existence of the GGA and the Dedication contained therein.
E.     Amendments. No amendment, change or modification of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of the GGA or this Memorandum, nor any waiver of rights hereunder, shall be effective unless made in writing and executed on behalf of the Parties or their duly authorized representatives.
F.     Additional Information. Should any person desire additional information regarding the GGA, said person should contact DBM by writing to: Midstream Contract Administration at midstreamcs@anadarko.com .
G.     Counterparts. This Memorandum may be executed by the Parties in any number of original counterparts, all of which collectively shall be considered one and the same instrument.
H.
Covenant. The Agreement constitutes a covenant running with the land and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
I.
Notice . By this Memorandum, all parties dealing with the Dedicated Lands are hereby put on notice as to the rights and obligations of AEP and DBM under the Agreement.

In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Memorandum and the provisions of the Agreement, the provisions of the Agreement shall control.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , this Memorandum has been executed by the Parties hereto as of the dates of their respective acknowledgements below.


DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
 
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
 
By:
 
Name:
 
 
Name:
 
Title:
 
 
Title:
 


G-2



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
STATE OF TEXAS
§
 
 
§
 
COUNTY OF
§
 

Acknowledged and appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said state, on the __ day of __________, 2018, _________________ ( name ), _________________ ( title ) of Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC , personally known to me to be the same person who signed the above and foregoing instrument, and upon oath, duly sworn, stated that he/she above ascribed his/her name hereto as the _________________ ( title ) of said company as the free and voluntary act thereof.
 
 
 
 
Notary Public
 
My commission expires:
 


STATE OF TEXAS
§
 
 
§
 
COUNTY OF
§
 

Acknowledged and appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said state, on the __ day of __________, 2018, _________________ ( name ), _________________ ( title ) of Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC, personally known to me to be the same person who signed the above and foregoing instrument, and upon oath, duly sworn, stated that he/she above ascribed his/her name hereto as the _________________ ( title ) of said company as the free and voluntary act thereof.
 
 
 
 
Notary Public
 
My commission expires:
 


G-3



EXHIBIT 1
to the
GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT RECORDING MEMORANDUM
Dedicated Lands

Notwithstanding the below, the Dedicated Lands shall not include any Interests in lands dedicated to a third party as of the Effective Date, provided that such lands shall automatically become Dedicated Lands, without any action of either party, upon the expiration or termination of such previous dedications. For clarity, neither AEP nor its Affiliates shall be obligated to terminate any prior dedications.
DBMGGA2.GIF


G-1



EXHIBIT “G”
GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT
DATED JANUARY 1, 2018
BY AND BETWEEN
DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
AND
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC

Memorandum of Gas Gathering Agreement
STATE OF TEXAS
§
 
COUNTY OF REEVES
§
 



THIS MEMORANDUM OF GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT (the “ Memorandum ”) is made and entered into between Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC (“ DBM ”), and Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC (“ AEP ”) . Each of DBM and AEP is individually referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the GGA.

WHEREAS , DBM and AEP have entered into that certain Gas Gathering Agreement (the “ GGA ”), dated January 1, 2018, providing for, among other things, the dedication to DBM for gathering of all Gas produced from Interests within the area depicted on, and covered by the legal descriptions described in, Exhibit “1” (the “ Dedicated Lands ”), now owned or hereafter acquired by AEP and/or its Affiliates, and their respective successors and assigns, that is produced from wells within the Dedicated Lands by AEP or its Affiliates; and
WHEREAS , the Parties desire to provide notice to third parties of such dedication under the GGA relating to the Dedicated Lands by entering into this Memorandum.
NOW THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the Parties hereby acknowledge the following:
J. Dedication. The GGA exclusively dedicates to DBM all Gas located in, under or produced from or attributable to the lands located within the Dedicated Lands to the extent such Gas is produced from wells within the Dedicated Lands and is attributable to Interests now owned by AEP and/or its Affiliates and their respective successors and assigns, subject to the terms of the GGA.
K.     Term of GGA. The initial term of the GGA commenced on January 1, 2018, and shall, unless earlier terminated, remain in full force and effect through December 31, 2032, and from Year to Year thereafter until canceled by either Party.
L.     Successors and Assigns. The GGA is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each Party, its successors and permitted assigns.
M.     Recordation. Each Party authorizes the other Party to record this Memorandum in the public records of each county where any portion of the Dedicated Lands is located and shall serve as notice of the existence of the GGA and the Dedication contained therein.

G-2



N.     Amendments. No amendment, change or modification of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of the GGA or this Memorandum, nor any waiver of rights hereunder, shall be effective unless made in writing and executed on behalf of the Parties or their duly authorized representatives.
O.     Additional Information. Should any person desire additional information regarding the GGA, said person should contact DBM by writing to: Midstream Contract Administration at midstreamcs@anadarko.com .
P.     Counterparts. This Memorandum may be executed by the Parties in any number of original counterparts, all of which collectively shall be considered one and the same instrument.
Q.
Covenant. The Agreement constitutes a covenant running with the land and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

R.
Notice . By this Memorandum, all parties dealing with the Dedicated Lands are hereby put on notice as to the rights and obligations of AEP and DBM under the Agreement.
In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Memorandum and the provisions of the Agreement, the provisions of the Agreement shall control.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , this Memorandum has been executed by the Parties hereto as of the dates of their respective acknowledgements below.

DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
 
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
 
By:
 
Name:
 
 
Name:
 
Title:
 
 
Title:
 


G-3



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
STATE OF TEXAS
§
 
 
§
 
COUNTY OF
§
 

Acknowledged and appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said state, on the __ day of __________, 2018, _________________ ( name ), _________________ ( title ) of Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC , personally known to me to be the same person who signed the above and foregoing instrument, and upon oath, duly sworn, stated that he/she above ascribed his/her name hereto as the _________________ ( title ) of said company as the free and voluntary act thereof.
 
 
 
 
Notary Public
 
My commission expires:
 

STATE OF TEXAS
§
 
 
§
 
COUNTY OF
§
 

Acknowledged and appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said state, on the __ day of __________, 2018, _________________ ( name ), _________________ ( title ) of Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC, personally known to me to be the same person who signed the above and foregoing instrument, and upon oath, duly sworn, stated that he/she above ascribed his/her name hereto as the _________________ ( title ) of said company as the free and voluntary act thereof.
 
 
 
 
Notary Public
 
My commission expires:
 


G-4



EXHIBIT 1
to the
GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT RECORDING MEMORANDUM
Dedicated Lands

Notwithstanding the below, the Dedicated Lands shall not include any Interests in lands dedicated to a third party as of the Effective Date, provided that such lands shall automatically become Dedicated Lands, without any action of either party, upon the expiration or termination of such previous dedications. For clarity, neither AEP nor its Affiliates shall be obligated to terminate any prior dedications.
DBMGGA2.GIF


G-1



EXHIBIT “G”
GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT
DATED JANUARY 1, 2018
BY AND BETWEEN
DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
AND
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC

Memorandum of Gas Gathering Agreement
STATE OF TEXAS
§
 
COUNTY OF WARD
§
 



THIS MEMORANDUM OF GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT (the “ Memorandum ”) is made and entered into between Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC (“ DBM ”), and Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC (“ AEP ”) . Each of DBM and AEP is individually referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the GGA.

WHEREAS , DBM and AEP have entered into that certain Gas Gathering Agreement (the “ GGA ”), dated January 1, 2018, providing for, among other things, the dedication to DBM for gathering of all Gas produced from Interests within the area depicted on, and covered by the legal descriptions described in, Exhibit “1” (the “ Dedicated Lands ”), now owned or hereafter acquired by AEP and/or its Affiliates, and their respective successors and assigns, that is produced from wells within the Dedicated Lands by AEP or its Affiliates; and
WHEREAS , the Parties desire to provide notice to third parties of such dedication under the GGA relating to the Dedicated Lands by entering into this Memorandum.
NOW THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the Parties hereby acknowledge the following:

S.     Dedication. The GGA exclusively dedicates to DBM all Gas located in, under or produced from or attributable to the lands located within the Dedicated Lands to the extent such Gas is produced from wells within the Dedicated Lands and is attributable to Interests now owned by AEP and/or its Affiliates and their respective successors and assigns, subject to the terms of the GGA.

T.     Term of GGA. The initial term of the GGA commenced on January 1, 2018, and shall, unless earlier terminated, remain in full force and effect through December 31, 2032, and from Year to Year thereafter until canceled by either Party.
U.     Successors and Assigns. The GGA is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each Party, its successors and permitted assigns.

G-2



V.     Recordation. Each Party authorizes the other Party to record this Memorandum in the public records of each county where any portion of the Dedicated Lands is located and shall serve as notice of the existence of the GGA and the Dedication contained therein.
W.     Amendments. No amendment, change or modification of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of the GGA or this Memorandum, nor any waiver of rights hereunder, shall be effective unless made in writing and executed on behalf of the Parties or their duly authorized representatives.
X.     Additional Information. Should any person desire additional information regarding the GGA, said person should contact DBM by writing to: Midstream Contract Administration at midstreamcs@anadarko.com .
Y.     Counterparts. This Memorandum may be executed by the Parties in any number of original counterparts, all of which collectively shall be considered one and the same instrument.
Z.
Covenant. The Agreement constitutes a covenant running with the land and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

AA.
Notice . By this Memorandum, all parties dealing with the Dedicated Lands are hereby put on notice as to the rights and obligations of AEP and DBM under the Agreement.

In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Memorandum and the provisions of the Agreement, the provisions of the Agreement shall control.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , this Memorandum has been executed by the Parties hereto as of the dates of their respective acknowledgements below.

DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
 
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
 
By:
 
Name:
 
 
Name:
 
Title:
 
 
Title:
 


G-3



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
STATE OF TEXAS
§
 
 
§
 
COUNTY OF
§
 

Acknowledged and appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said state, on the __ day of __________, 2018, _________________ ( name ), _________________ ( title ) of Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC , personally known to me to be the same person who signed the above and foregoing instrument, and upon oath, duly sworn, stated that he/she above ascribed his/her name hereto as the _________________ ( title ) of said company as the free and voluntary act thereof.
 
 
 
 
Notary Public
 
My commission expires:
 


STATE OF TEXAS
§
 
 
§
 
COUNTY OF
§
 

Acknowledged and appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said state, on the __ day of __________, 2018, _________________ ( name ), _________________ ( title ) of Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC, personally known to me to be the same person who signed the above and foregoing instrument, and upon oath, duly sworn, stated that he/she above ascribed his/her name hereto as the _________________ ( title ) of said company as the free and voluntary act thereof.
 
 
 
 
Notary Public
 
My commission expires:
 


G-4



EXHIBIT 1
to the
GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT RECORDING MEMORANDUM
Dedicated Lands

Notwithstanding the below, the Dedicated Lands shall not include any Interests in lands dedicated to a third party as of the Effective Date, provided that such lands shall automatically become Dedicated Lands, without any action of either party, upon the expiration or termination of such previous dedications. For clarity, neither AEP nor its Affiliates shall be obligated to terminate any prior dedications.
DBMGGA2.GIF



G-1



EXHIBIT “G”
GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT
DATED JANUARY 1, 2018
BY AND BETWEEN
DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
AND
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC

Memorandum of Gas Gathering Agreement
STATE OF TEXAS
§
 
COUNTY OF WINKLER
§
 



THIS MEMORANDUM OF GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT (the “ Memorandum ”) is made and entered into between Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC (“ DBM ”), and Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC (“ AEP ”) . Each of DBM and AEP is individually referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the GGA.

WHEREAS , DBM and AEP have entered into that certain Gas Gathering Agreement (the “ GGA ”), dated January 1, 2018, providing for, among other things, the dedication to DBM for gathering of all Gas produced from Interests within the area depicted on, and covered by the legal descriptions described in, Exhibit “1” (the “ Dedicated Lands ”), now owned or hereafter acquired by AEP and/or its Affiliates, and their respective successors and assigns, that is produced from wells within the Dedicated Lands by AEP or its Affiliates; and
WHEREAS , the Parties desire to provide notice to third parties of such dedication under the GGA relating to the Dedicated Lands by entering into this Memorandum.
NOW THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the Parties hereby acknowledge the following:

BB.     Dedication. The GGA exclusively dedicates to DBM all Gas located in, under or produced from or attributable to the lands located within the Dedicated Lands to the extent such Gas is produced from wells within the Dedicated Lands and is attributable to Interests now owned by AEP and/or its Affiliates and their respective successors and assigns, subject to the terms of the GGA.

CC.     Term of GGA. The initial term of the GGA commenced on January 1, 2018, and shall, unless earlier terminated, remain in full force and effect through December 31, 2032, and from Year to Year thereafter until canceled by either Party.
DD.     Successors and Assigns. The GGA is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each Party, its successors and permitted assigns.

G-2



EE.     Recordation. Each Party authorizes the other Party to record this Memorandum in the public records of each county where any portion of the Dedicated Lands is located and shall serve as notice of the existence of the GGA and the Dedication contained therein.
FF.     Amendments. No amendment, change or modification of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of the GGA or this Memorandum, nor any waiver of rights hereunder, shall be effective unless made in writing and executed on behalf of the Parties or their duly authorized representatives.
GG.     Additional Information. Should any person desire additional information regarding the GGA, said person should contact DBM by writing to: Midstream Contract Administration at midstreamcs@anadarko.com .
HH.     Counterparts. This Memorandum may be executed by the Parties in any number of original counterparts, all of which collectively shall be considered one and the same instrument.
II.
Covenant. The Agreement constitutes a covenant running with the land and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

JJ.
Notice . By this Memorandum, all parties dealing with the Dedicated Lands are hereby put on notice as to the rights and obligations of AEP and DBM under the Agreement.

In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Memorandum and the provisions of the Agreement, the provisions of the Agreement shall control.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , this Memorandum has been executed by the Parties hereto as of the dates of their respective acknowledgements below.

DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
 
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
 
By:
 
Name:
 
 
Name:
 
Title:
 
 
Title:
 


G-3



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
STATE OF TEXAS
§
 
 
§
 
COUNTY OF
§
 

Acknowledged and appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said state, on the __ day of __________, 2018, _________________ ( name ), _________________ ( title ) of Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC , personally known to me to be the same person who signed the above and foregoing instrument, and upon oath, duly sworn, stated that he/she above ascribed his/her name hereto as the _________________ ( title ) of said company as the free and voluntary act thereof.
 
 
 
 
Notary Public
 
My commission expires:
 

STATE OF TEXAS
§
 
 
§
 
COUNTY OF
§
 

Acknowledged and appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said state, on the __ day of __________, 2018, _________________ ( name ), _________________ ( title ) of Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC, personally known to me to be the same person who signed the above and foregoing instrument, and upon oath, duly sworn, stated that he/she above ascribed his/her name hereto as the _________________ ( title ) of said company as the free and voluntary act thereof.
 
 
 
 
Notary Public
 
My commission expires:
 



G-4



EXHIBIT 1
to the
GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT RECORDING MEMORANDUM
Dedicated Lands

Notwithstanding the below, the Dedicated Lands shall not include any Interests in lands dedicated to a third party as of the Effective Date, provided that such lands shall automatically become Dedicated Lands, without any action of either party, upon the expiration or termination of such previous dedications. For clarity, neither AEP nor its Affiliates shall be obligated to terminate any prior dedications.
DBMGGA2.GIF






Memorandum -1




EXHIBIT “H”
GAS GATHERING AGREEMENT
DATED JANUARY 1, 2018
BY AND BETWEEN
DELAWARE BASIN MIDSTREAM, LLC
AND
ANADARKO E&P ONSHORE LLC


FORM OF TRANSPORTATION INTEREST CONVEYANCE
THIS TRANSPORTATION INTEREST CONVEYANCE (the “ Conveyance ”) is made and entered into between Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC (“ DBM ) and Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC (“ AEP ”). Each of DBM and AEP is individually referred to herein as a “Party” and collectively as the “Parties.” Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Gathering Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS , DBM and AEP have entered into that certain Gas Gathering Agreement (the “ Gathering Agreement ”), dated effective January 1, 2018, providing for, among other things, the dedication to DBM for gathering of all Gas produced from Interests in the Dedicated Lands; and
WHEREAS , AEP desires to hereby grant to DBM a Transportation Interest in a portion of the Dedicated Lands (the “ Subject Lands ”) as shown on Attachment 1 hereto.
NOW THEREFORE , for and in consideration of the premises of this Conveyance and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
KK.     Dedication. The Gathering Agreement exclusively dedicates to DBM all Gas located in, under or produced from or attributable to the lands located within the Subject Lands to the extent such Gas is produced from wells within the Subject Lands and is attributable to Interests now owned by AEP and/or its Affiliates and their respective successors and assigns, subject to the terms of the Gathering Agreement. Interests means any right, title or interest of any nature in and to oil and gas leases to the extent, and only to the extent, such right, title or interest relates to the right to dispose of Gas. In furtherance of, and as an inseparable part of, the foregoing dedication, AEP and its Affiliates hereby GRANT, TRANSFER AND CONVEY, from and out of AEP’s and its Affiliates’ Interests, to DBM, effective on [DATE], the exclusive right to gather, dehydrate, compress, meter and measure all of AEP’s and its Affiliates’ Dedicated Gas (the Transportation Interests ”) for the Term of the Gathering Agreement, and AEP hereby acknowledges and agrees that such dedication and the grant, transfer and conveyance of the Transportation Interests are intended to be (i) a covenant running with the lands located within the Dedicated Lands that is binding on all successors and assigns of AEP and its Affiliates and (ii) a conveyance of a portion of AEP’s real property interests included in the Dedicated Lands (including the interests of others whose interests are represented or controlled by AEP insofar only as AEP has the power and authority to grant Transportation Interests in the interests of such third parties). DBM and AEP acknowledge and agree that DBM has a determinable real property interest carved out of the Dedicated Lands. THE TRANSPORTATION INTERESTS SHALL AUTOMATICALLY TERMINATE AND REVERT TO AEP AND ITS AFFILIATES, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, AND DBM SHALL BE AUTOMATICALLY DIVESTED OF TITLE AND ANY RIGHTS TO THE TRANSPORTATION INTERESTS, WITHOUT ANY ACTION BY THE PARTIES, UPON THE EARLIER OF THE TERMINATION OF THE GATHERING AGREEMENT AND THE EXPIRATION OF THE TERM OF THE GATHERING AGREEMENT. DBM MAY NOT SEPARATE OR CONVEY THE

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TRANSPORTATION INTERESTS SEPARATE AND APART FROM DBM’S OTHER RIGHTS UNDER THE GATHERING AGREEMENT.
LL.     The Transportation Interests conveyed herein are subject to (i) the terms and conditions of the Gathering Agreement and (ii) with respect to the third party non-operated Interests, the rights (if any) of the owners of such Interests to take in kind their share of Gas produced from the Subject Lands.
MM.     Term of Gathering Agreement. The initial term of the Gathering Agreement commenced on January 1, 2018, and shall, unless earlier terminated, remain in full force and effect through for fifteen (15) years, and from year to year thereafter until canceled by either Party.
NN.     Successors and Assigns. The Gathering Agreement is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each Party, its successors and permitted assigns.
OO.     Recordation. Each Party authorizes the other Party to record this Conveyance in the public records of each county where any portion of the Dedicated Lands is located, to serve as notice of the existence of the Gathering Agreement, the Dedication contained therein and the Transportation Interests.
PP.     Amendments. No amendment, change or modification of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of the Gathering Agreement or this Conveyance, nor any waiver of rights hereunder, shall be effective unless made in writing and executed on behalf of the Parties or their duly authorized representatives.
QQ.     Additional Information. Should any person desire additional information regarding the Gathering Agreement or the Transportation Interests, said person should contact DBM by writing to: MidstreamCA@anadarko.com.
RR.     Counterparts. This Conveyance may be executed by the Parties in any number of original counterparts, all of which collectively shall be considered one and the same instrument.
SS.     Covenant. This Conveyance and the Transportation Interests constitute a covenant running with the land and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
TT.     Notice . By this Conveyance, all parties dealing with the Dedicated Lands are hereby put on notice as to the rights and obligations of AEP and DBM under the Gathering Agreement.
In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Conveyance and the provisions of the Gathering Agreement, the provisions of the Gathering Agreement shall control.

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EXECUTED this the _____ day of ____________, 20__, by AEP and DBM.

DBM
 
 
AEP
 
Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC
 
Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
 
 
By:
 
Name:
 
 
Name:
 
Title:
 
 
Title:
 


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STATE OF
§
 
 
§
 
COUNTY OF
§
 

Appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said state, on the __ day of __________, 20__, _________________ ( name ), _________________ ( title ) of Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC, personally known to me to be the same person who signed the above and foregoing instrument, and upon oath, duly sworn, stated that he/she above ascribed his/her name hereto as the _________________ ( title ) of said company as the free and voluntary act thereof.
 
 
 
 
Notary Public
 
My commission expires:
 


STATE OF
§
 
 
§
 
COUNTY OF
§
 

Appeared before me, a Notary Public in and for said state, on the __ day of __________, 20__, _________________ ( name ), _________________ ( title ) of APC Water Holdings 1, LLC, personally known to me to be the same person who signed the above and foregoing instrument, and upon oath, duly sworn, stated that he/she above ascribed his/her name hereto as the _________________ ( title ) of said company as the free and voluntary act thereof.
 
 
 
 
Notary Public
 
My commission expires:
 



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Attachment 1
to the
Transportation Interest Conveyance
Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC and Delaware Basin Midstream, LLC
Dated __________

SUBJECT LANDS
[ADD MAP OR LAND DESCRIPTION]



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EXHIBIT 31.1
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) AND RULE 15D-14(A)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED
I, Benjamin M. Fink, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Western Gas Partners, LP (the “registrant”);
2.
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;
3.
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;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer 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
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer 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: October 31, 2018
 
 
/s/ Benjamin M. Fink
 
Benjamin M. Fink
President and Chief Executive Officer
Western Gas Holdings, LLC
(as general partner of Western Gas Partners, LP)




EXHIBIT 31.2
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) AND RULE 15D-14(A)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED
I, Jaime R. Casas, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Western Gas Partners, LP (the “registrant”);
2.
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;
3.
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;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer 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
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer 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: October 31, 2018

 
/s/ Jaime R. Casas
 
Jaime R. Casas
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Western Gas Holdings, LLC
(as general partner of Western Gas Partners, LP)




EXHIBIT 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, Benjamin M. Fink, President and Chief Executive Officer of Western Gas Holdings, LLC, the general partner of Western Gas Partners, LP (the “Partnership”) and Jaime R. Casas, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Western Gas Holdings, LLC, certify to the best of our knowledge that:
 
(1)
the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Partnership for the period ending September 30, 2018 , as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (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 Partnership.
October 31, 2018
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
/s/ Benjamin M. Fink
 
  
Benjamin M. Fink
President and Chief Executive Officer
Western Gas Holdings, LLC
(as general partner of Western Gas Partners, LP)
 
 
 
October 31, 2018
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
/s/ Jaime R. Casas
 
  
Jaime R. Casas
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Western Gas Holdings, LLC
(as general partner of Western Gas Partners, LP)
The foregoing certifications are being furnished as an exhibit to the Report pursuant to Item 601(b)(32) of Regulation S-K and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code) and, accordingly, are not being filed as part of the Report for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are not incorporated by reference into any filing of the Partnership, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.