Summit Midstream Partners, LP - 10-K filing on 2014-03-10

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include temporary cash investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Accounts Receivable. Accounts receivable relate to gathering and other services provided to our natural gas producer customers. To the extent we doubt the collectability of our accounts receivable, we recognize an allowance for doubtful accounts. We did not experience any non-payments during the three-year period ended December 31, 2013. As a result, we did not recognize an allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Property, Plant, and Equipment. We record property, plant, and equipment at historical cost of construction or fair value of the assets at acquisition. We capitalize expenditures that extend the useful life of an asset or enhance its productivity or efficiency from its original design over the expected remaining period of use. For maintenance and repairs that do not add capacity or extend the useful life of an asset, we recognize expenditures as an expense as incurred. We capitalize project costs incurred during construction, including interest on funds borrowed to finance the construction of facilities, as construction in progress.

We base an asset’s carrying value on estimates, assumptions and judgments for useful life and salvage value. We record depreciation on a straight-line basis over an asset’s estimated useful life. We base our estimates for useful life on various factors including age (in the case of acquired assets), manufacturing specifications, technological advances, and historical data concerning useful lives of similar assets.

Upon sale or retirement, we remove the carrying value of an asset and its accumulated depreciation from our balance sheet and recognize the related gain or loss, if any.

Asset Retirement Obligations. We record a liability for asset retirement obligations only if and when a future asset retirement obligation with a determinable life is identified. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we evaluated whether any future asset retirement obligations existed. For identified asset retirement obligations, we then evaluated whether the expected retirement date and the related costs of retirement could be estimated. In performing this evaluation, we concluded that our natural gas gathering system assets have an indeterminate life because they are owned and will operate for an indeterminate future period when properly maintained. Because we did not have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the amount or timing of such obligations and we have no current plan to discontinue use of any significant assets, we did not provide for any asset retirement obligations as of December 31, 2013 or 2012.

Intangible Assets and Noncurrent Liability. Upon the acquisition of DFW Midstream, certain of our gas gathering contracts were deemed to have above-market pricing structures while another was deemed to have pricing that was below market. We have recognized the contracts that were above market at acquisition as favorable gas gathering contracts. We have recognized the contract that was deemed to be below market as a noncurrent liability. We amortize these intangibles on a units-of-production basis over the estimated useful life of the contract. We define useful life as the period over which the contract is expected to contribute directly or indirectly to our future cash flows. The related contracts have original terms ranging from 10 years to 20 years. We recognize the amortization expense associated with these intangible assets and liabilities in revenue.

For our other gas gathering contracts, we amortize contract intangible assets over the period of economic benefit based upon the expected revenues over the life of the contract. The useful life of these contracts ranges from 10 years to 25 years. We recognize the amortization expense associated with these intangible assets in depreciation and amortization expense.

We have right-of-way intangible assets associated with city easements and easements granted within existing rights-of-way. We amortize these intangible assets over the shorter of the contractual term of the rights-of-way or the estimated useful life of the gathering system. The contractual terms of the rights-of-way range from 20 years to 30 years. The estimated useful life of our gathering systems is 30 years. We recognize the amortization expense associated with these intangible assets in depreciation and amortization expense.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. We test assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. If we conclude that an asset’s carrying value will not be recovered through future cash flows, we recognize an impairment loss on the long-lived asset equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds its fair value. We determine fair value using an income approach in which we discount the asset’s expected future cash flows to reflect the risk associated with achieving the underlying cash flows. During the three-year period ended December 31, 2013, we concluded that none of our long-lived assets had been impaired.

Goodwill. Goodwill represents consideration paid in excess of the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired in a business combination. We evaluate goodwill for impairment annually on September 30. We also evaluate goodwill whenever events or circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount.

We test goodwill for impairment using a two-step quantitative test. In the first step, we compare the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the reporting unit’s fair value exceeds its carrying amount, we conclude that the goodwill of the reporting unit has not been impaired and no further work is performed. If we determine that the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, we proceed to step two. In step two, we compare the carrying value of the reporting unit to its implied fair value. If we determine that the carrying amount of a reporting unit's goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, we recognize the excess of the carrying value over the implied fair value as an impairment loss.

Other Noncurrent Assets. Other noncurrent assets primarily consist of external costs incurred in connection with the issuance of our senior notes and the closing of our revolving credit facility and related amendments. We capitalize and then amortize these deferred loan costs over the life of the respective debt instrument. We recognize amortization of deferred loan costs in interest expense.

Derivative Contracts. We have commodity price exposure related to our sale of the physical natural gas we retain from our DFW customers, and our procurement of electricity to operate our electric-drive compression assets on the DFW Midstream system. Our gas gathering agreements with our DFW Midstream customers permit us to retain a certain quantity of natural gas that we gather to offset the power costs we incur to operate our electric-drive compression assets. We manage this direct exposure to natural gas and power prices through the use of forward power purchase contracts with wholesale power providers that require us to purchase a fixed quantity of power at a fixed heat rate based on prevailing natural gas prices on the Waha Hub Index. Because we also sell our retainage gas at prices that are based on the Waha Hub Index, we have effectively fixed the relationship between our compression electricity expense and natural gas retainage sales.

Accounting standards related to derivative instruments and hedging activities allow for "normal" purchase or sale elections and hedge accounting designations, which generally eliminate or defer the requirement for mark-to-market recognition in net income and thus reduce the volatility of net income that can result from fluctuations in fair values. We have designated these contracts as normal under the normal purchase and sale exception under the accounting standards for derivatives. We do not enter into risk management contracts for speculative purposes.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents (Level 1), accounts receivable, and accounts payable reported on the balance sheet approximates fair value due to their short-term maturities.

GAAP's fair-value-measurement standard defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The standard characterizes inputs used in determining fair value according to a hierarchy that prioritizes those inputs based upon the degree to which they are observable. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:


•	Level 1. Inputs represent quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

•

Level 2. Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly (for example, quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets not considered to be active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or market-corroborated inputs); and


•	Level 3. Inputs that are not observable from objective sources, such as management’s internally developed assumptions used in pricing an asset or liability (for example, an estimate of future cash flows used in management’s internally developed present value of future cash flows model that underlies the fair value measurement).

Nonfinancial assets and liabilities initially measured at fair value include those acquired and assumed in connection with third-party business combinations.

A summary of the estimated fair value for financial instruments follows.



	December 31, 2013				December 31, 2012
	Carrying value		Estimated fair value (Level 2)		Carrying value		Estimated fair value (Level 2)
	(In thousands)
Revolving credit facility	$	286,000	$	286,000	$	199,230	$	199,230
Senior notes	300,000		314,625		—		—

The revolving credit facility’s carrying value on the balance sheet is its fair value due to its floating interest rate. The fair value for the senior notes is based on an average of nonbinding broker quotes as of December 31, 2013. The use of different market assumptions or valuation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value of the senior notes.

Commitments and Contingencies. We record accruals for loss contingencies when we determine that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and that such economic loss can be reasonably estimated. Such determinations are subject to interpretations of current facts and circumstances, forecasts of future events, and estimates of the financial impacts of such events.

Revenue Recognition. We generate the majority of our revenue from the natural gas gathering services that we provide to our natural gas producer customers. We also generate revenue from our marketing of natural gas and natural gas liquids ("NGLs"). We realize revenues by receiving fees from our producer customers or by selling the residue natural gas and NGLs.

We recognize revenue earned from gathering services in gathering services and other fees revenue. We also earn revenue from the sale of physical natural gas purchased from our customers under percentage-of-proceeds arrangements. These revenues are recognized in natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales and other with corresponding expense recognition in cost of natural gas and NGLs. We sell the natural gas that we retain from our DFW Midstream customers to offset the power expenses of the electric-driven compression on the DFW Midstream system. We also sell condensate retained from our gathering services at Grand River Gathering. Revenues from the retainage of natural gas and condensate are recognized in natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales and other; the associated expense is included in operation and maintenance expense. Certain customers reimburse us for costs we incur on their behalf. We record costs incurred and reimbursed by our customers on a gross basis.

We recognize revenue when all of the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an exchange arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the price is fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

We obtain access to natural gas and provide services principally under contracts that contain one or both of the following arrangements:

•

Fee-based arrangements. Under fee-based arrangements, we receive a fee or fees for one or more of the following services: natural gas gathering, compressing, and treating. Fee-based arrangements include natural gas purchase arrangements pursuant to which we purchase natural gas at the wellhead, or other receipt points, at a settled price at the delivery point less a specified amount, generally the same as the fees we would otherwise charge for gathering of natural gas from the wellhead location to the delivery point. The margins earned are directly related to the volume of natural gas that flows through the system.

•

Percent-of-proceeds arrangements. Under percent-of-proceeds arrangements, we generally purchase natural gas from producers at the wellhead, or other receipt points, gather the wellhead natural gas through our gathering system, treat the natural gas, and sell the natural gas to a third party for processing. We then remit to our producers an agreed-upon percentage of the actual proceeds received from sales of the residue natural gas and NGLs. Certain of these arrangements may also result in returning all or a portion of the residue natural gas and/or the NGLs to the producer, in lieu of returning sales proceeds.

Many of our natural gas gathering agreements provide for a monthly or annual minimum volume commitment ("MVC") from certain of our customers. Under these monthly or annual MVCs, our customers agree to ship a minimum volume of natural gas on our gathering systems or to pay a minimum monetary amount over certain periods during the term of the MVC. A customer must make a shortfall payment to us at the end of the contract month or year, as applicable, if its actual throughput volumes are less than its MVC for that month or year. Certain customers are entitled to utilize shortfall payments to offset gathering fees in one or more subsequent periods to the extent that such customer's throughput volumes in subsequent periods exceed its MVC for that period. These contract provisions range from 12 months to eight years.

We record customer billings for obligations under their MVCs as deferred revenue when the customer has the right to utilize shortfall payments to offset gathering fees in subsequent periods. We recognize deferred revenue under these arrangements in revenue once all contingencies or potential performance obligations associated with the related volumes have either (i) been satisfied through the gathering of future excess volumes of natural gas, or (ii) expired (or lapsed) through the passage of time pursuant to the terms of the applicable natural gas gathering agreement. We classify deferred revenue as current for arrangements where the expiration of a customer's right to utilize shortfall payments is twelve months or less. A rollforward of current and noncurrent deferred revenue follows.



	Current		Noncurrent
	(In thousands)
Deferred revenue, January 1, 2012	$	—	$	1,770
Additions	865		9,129
Deferred revenue, December 31, 2012	865		10,899
Additions (1)	1,555		18,784
Less: revenue recognized due to expiration	865		—
Deferred revenue, December 31, 2013	$	1,555	$	29,683

__________

(1) Noncurrent includes amounts recognized in connection with the Bison Drop Down.

As of December 31, 2013, we have $1.1 million included in accounts receivable for shortfall payments related to MVC arrangements which can be utilized to offset gathering fees in subsequent periods. Current and noncurrent deferred revenue at December 31, 2013 includes amounts that provide the customer the ability to offset gathering fees in the next one month to eight years to the extent that the customer's throughput volumes exceed its MVC.

Unit-Based Compensation. For awards of unit-based compensation, we determine a grant date fair value and recognize the related compensation expense, in the statement of operations over the vesting period of the respective awards. See Note 8 for additional information.

Income Taxes. We are not subject to federal and state income taxes, except as noted below, because we are structured as a partnership. As a result, our unitholders or members are individually responsible for paying federal and state income taxes on their share of our taxable income.

In general, legal entities that are chartered, organized or conducting business in the state of Texas are subject to the Revised Texas Franchise Tax (the "Texas Margin Tax"). The Texas Margin Tax has the characteristics of an income tax because it is determined by applying a tax rate to a tax base that considers both revenues and expenses. Our financial statements reflect provisions for these tax obligations.

Earnings Per Unit ("EPU"). We present earnings per limited partner unit data only for periods subsequent to the closing of SMLP’s IPO in October 2012. EPU for periods ended prior to the IPO have not been presented because Summit Investments' members held membership interests and not units.

We determine EPU by dividing the net income that is attributed, in accordance with the net income and loss allocation provisions of the partnership agreement, to the common and subordinated unitholders under the two-class method, after deducting the general partner's 2% interest in net income and any payments to the general partner in connection with their incentive distribution rights ("IDRs"), by the weighted-average number of common and subordinated units outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2013 and the period from October 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Diluted earnings per limited partner unit reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other agreements to issue common units, such as unit-based compensation, were exercised, settled or converted into common units. When it is determined that potential common units resulting from an award subject to performance or market conditions should be included in the diluted earnings per limited partner unit calculation, the impact is reflected by applying the treasury stock method.

Comprehensive Income. Comprehensive income is the same as net income for all periods presented.

Environmental Matters. We are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. Although we believe that we are in material compliance with applicable environmental regulations, the risk of costs and liabilities are inherent in pipeline ownership and operation. Liabilities for loss contingencies, including environmental remediation costs, arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, and penalties and other sources are charged to expense when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment and/or remediation can be reasonably estimated. There are no such liabilities reflected in the accompanying financial statements at December 31, 2013 or 2012. However, we can provide no assurances that significant costs and liabilities will not be incurred by the Partnership in the future. We are currently not aware of any material contingent liabilities that exist with respect to environmental matters.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements. Accounting standard setters frequently issue new or revised accounting rules. We review new pronouncements to determine the impact, if any, on our financial statements. There are currently no recent pronouncements that have been issued that we believe will materially affect our financial statements.