QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document
Exhibit 12.1
MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P.
Calculation of Earnings to Fixed Charges
(Dollar amounts in thousands)
| Year ended December 31, | Nine Months ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | ||||||||||||||
Fixed Charges | 7,184 | 17,192 | 34,080 | 54,153 | 49,191 | 63,007 | ||||||||||||||
Earnings | ||||||||||||||||||||
Add: | ||||||||||||||||||||
(a) Pre-tax income (loss) from continuing operations | (32,517 | ) | 6,490 | (8,515 | ) | 74,498 | (59,155 | ) | 41,121 | |||||||||||
(b) Fixed charges | 7,184 | 17,192 | 34,080 | 54,153 | 49,191 | 63,007 | ||||||||||||||
(c) Amortization of capitalized interest | — | 53 | 195 | 255 | 478 | 610 | ||||||||||||||
(d) Distributed income of equity investees | — | — | 2,441 | — | 10,840 | 5,445 | ||||||||||||||
(e) Share of pre-tax losses of equity investees | — | — | 2,153 | (5,316 | ) | (5,309 | ) | (1,932 | ) | |||||||||||
Subtract: | ||||||||||||||||||||
(a) Interest capitalized | — | (793 | ) | (2,133 | ) | (900 | ) | (3,344 | ) | (5,035 | ) | |||||||||
(b) Preference security dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
(c) Minority interest in pre-tax income of subsidiaries that have not incurred fixed charges | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Equals Earnings (Loss) | (25,333 | ) | 22,942 | 28,221 | 122,690 | (7,299 | ) | 103,216 | ||||||||||||
Ratio | (3.53 | ) | 1.33 | 0.83 | 2.27 | (0.15 | ) | 1.64 | ||||||||||||
MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. Calculation of Earnings to Fixed Charges