Document_and_Entity_Informatio
Document and Entity Information | 9 Months Ended | |
Sep. 30, 2013 | Nov. 04, 2013 | |
Document And Entity Information [Abstract] | ' | ' |
Entity Registrant Name | 'WESTERN GAS EQUITY PARTNERS, LP | ' |
Entity Central Index Key | '0001423902 | ' |
Document Type | '10-Q | ' |
Document Period End Date | 30-Sep-13 | ' |
Amendment Flag | 'false | ' |
Document Fiscal Year Focus | '2013 | ' |
Document Fiscal Period Focus | 'Q3 | ' |
Current Fiscal Year End Date | '--12-31 | ' |
Entity Filer Category | 'Non-accelerated Filer | ' |
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding | ' | 218,895,515 |
Consolidated_Statements_of_Inc
Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | ||||
Revenues | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Total revenues | $278,001 | $234,734 | [1] | $762,874 | $679,720 | [1] | ||
Operating expenses | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Cost of product | 93,516 | [2] | 89,107 | [1],[2] | 270,059 | [2] | 254,719 | [1],[2] |
Operation and maintenance | 42,757 | [2] | 35,493 | [1],[2] | 121,165 | [2] | 103,304 | [1],[2] |
General and administrative | 7,962 | [2] | 15,039 | [1],[2] | 25,100 | [2] | 35,623 | [1],[2] |
Property and other taxes | 6,649 | 5,328 | [1] | 18,520 | 14,998 | [1] | ||
Depreciation, amortization and impairments | 37,615 | 28,455 | [1] | 106,551 | 83,263 | [1] | ||
Total operating expenses | 188,499 | 173,422 | [1] | 541,395 | 491,907 | [1] | ||
Operating income | 89,502 | 61,312 | [1] | 221,479 | 187,813 | [1] | ||
Interest income, net - affiliates | 4,225 | 4,225 | [1] | 12,675 | 12,675 | [1] | ||
Interest expense | -13,018 | [3] | -10,977 | [1],[3] | -37,483 | [3] | -30,118 | [1],[3] |
Other income (expense), net | 466 | 522 | [1] | 1,686 | -287 | [1] | ||
Income before income taxes | 81,175 | 55,082 | [1] | 198,357 | 170,083 | [1] | ||
Income tax expense | 58 | 14,166 | 4,431 | 43,790 | ||||
Net income | 81,117 | 40,916 | [1] | 193,926 | 126,293 | [1] | ||
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest | 36,779 | 21,605 | [1] | 82,562 | 71,258 | [1] | ||
Net income attributable to Western Gas Equity Partners, LP | 44,338 | 19,311 | [1] | 111,364 | 55,035 | [1] | ||
Limited partners' interest in net income: | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Pre-acquisition net (income) loss allocated to Anadarko | 0 | ' | -4,637 | ' | ||||
Limited partners' interest in net income | 44,338 | [4] | ' | 106,727 | [4] | ' | ||
Affiliated Entity [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Revenues | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Gathering, processing and transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids | 83,606 | 61,388 | [1] | 218,680 | 182,448 | [1] | ||
Natural gas, natural gas liquids and condensate sales | 129,411 | 115,132 | [1] | 371,077 | 324,793 | [1] | ||
Equity income and other, net | 4,607 | 4,085 | [1] | 13,457 | 12,219 | [1] | ||
Total revenues | 217,624 | [5] | 180,605 | [1],[5] | 603,214 | [5] | 519,460 | [1],[5] |
Operating expenses | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Cost of product | 33,753 | [5] | 42,839 | [5] | 97,801 | [5] | 115,603 | [5] |
Operation and maintenance | 13,469 | [6] | 12,638 | [6] | 41,021 | [6] | 38,040 | [6] |
General and administrative | 6,090 | [7] | 14,227 | [7] | 17,981 | [7] | 30,811 | [7] |
Total operating expenses | 53,312 | 69,704 | 156,803 | 184,454 | ||||
Interest expense | 0 | [8] | -81 | [8] | 0 | [8] | -2,684 | [8] |
Third Parties [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Revenues | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Gathering, processing and transportation of natural gas and natural gas liquids | 47,175 | 32,545 | [1] | 124,791 | 96,518 | [1] | ||
Natural gas, natural gas liquids and condensate sales | 11,915 | 20,974 | [1] | 31,539 | 62,025 | [1] | ||
Equity income and other, net | 1,287 | 610 | [1] | 3,330 | 1,717 | [1] | ||
Total revenues | 60,377 | 54,129 | [1] | 159,660 | 160,260 | [1] | ||
Operating expenses | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Interest expense | ($13,018) | ($10,896) | ($37,483) | ($27,434) | ||||
Limited Partner [Member] | Common Units [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Limited partners' interest in net income: | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Net income per common unit - basic and diluted | $0.20 | ' | $0.49 | ' | ||||
Weighted average common units outstanding - basic and diluted | 218,896,000 | ' | 218,896,000 | ' | ||||
[1] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. | |||||||
[2] | Cost of product includes product purchases from Anadarko (as defined in Note 1) of $33.8 million and $97.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $42.8 million and $115.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. Operation and maintenance includes charges from Anadarko of $13.5 million and $41.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $12.6 million and $38.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. General and administrative includes charges from Anadarko of $6.1 million and $18.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $14.2 million and $30.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. See Note 5. | |||||||
[3] | Includes affiliate (as defined in Note 1) interest expense of zero for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, and $0.1 million and $2.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. See Note 8. | |||||||
[4] | Represents net income for periods including and subsequent to the acquisition of WES assets (as defined in Note 1). See Note 4. | |||||||
[5] | Represents amounts recognized under gathering, treating or processing agreements, and purchase and sale agreements. | |||||||
[6] | Represents expenses incurred on and subsequent to the date of the acquisition of WES assets, as well as expenses incurred by Anadarko on a historical basis related to WES assets prior to the acquisition of such assets by WES. | |||||||
[7] | Represents general and administrative expense incurred on and subsequent to the date of WES’s acquisition of WES assets, as well as a management services fee for reimbursement of expenses incurred by Anadarko for periods prior to the acquisition of WES assets by WES. These amounts include equity-based compensation expense allocated to WES by Anadarko (see Equity incentive plan and Anadarko incentive plans within this Note 5) and amounts charged by Anadarko under the WGP omnibus agreement. | |||||||
[8] | For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, includes interest expense recognized on the WES note payable to Anadarko (see Note 8) and interest imputed on the reimbursement payable to Anadarko for certain expenditures Anadarko incurred in 2011 related to the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants. WES repaid the WES note payable to Anadarko in June 2012, and repaid the reimbursement payable to Anadarko related to the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants in the fourth quarter of 2012. See Note receivable from and amounts payable to Anadarko within this Note 5. |
Consolidated_Statements_of_Inc1
Consolidated Statements of Income (Parenthetical) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | ||||
Cost of product | $93,516 | [1] | $89,107 | [1],[2] | $270,059 | [1] | $254,719 | [1],[2] |
Operation and maintenance | 42,757 | [1] | 35,493 | [1],[2] | 121,165 | [1] | 103,304 | [1],[2] |
General and administrative | 7,962 | [1] | 15,039 | [1],[2] | 25,100 | [1] | 35,623 | [1],[2] |
Interest expense | 13,018 | [3] | 10,977 | [2],[3] | 37,483 | [3] | 30,118 | [2],[3] |
Affiliated Entity [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Cost of product | 33,753 | [4] | 42,839 | [4] | 97,801 | [4] | 115,603 | [4] |
Operation and maintenance | 13,469 | [5] | 12,638 | [5] | 41,021 | [5] | 38,040 | [5] |
General and administrative | 6,090 | [6] | 14,227 | [6] | 17,981 | [6] | 30,811 | [6] |
Interest expense | $0 | [7] | $81 | [7] | $0 | [7] | $2,684 | [7] |
[1] | Cost of product includes product purchases from Anadarko (as defined in Note 1) of $33.8 million and $97.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $42.8 million and $115.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. Operation and maintenance includes charges from Anadarko of $13.5 million and $41.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $12.6 million and $38.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. General and administrative includes charges from Anadarko of $6.1 million and $18.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $14.2 million and $30.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. See Note 5. | |||||||
[2] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. | |||||||
[3] | Includes affiliate (as defined in Note 1) interest expense of zero for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, and $0.1 million and $2.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. See Note 8. | |||||||
[4] | Represents amounts recognized under gathering, treating or processing agreements, and purchase and sale agreements. | |||||||
[5] | Represents expenses incurred on and subsequent to the date of the acquisition of WES assets, as well as expenses incurred by Anadarko on a historical basis related to WES assets prior to the acquisition of such assets by WES. | |||||||
[6] | Represents general and administrative expense incurred on and subsequent to the date of WES’s acquisition of WES assets, as well as a management services fee for reimbursement of expenses incurred by Anadarko for periods prior to the acquisition of WES assets by WES. These amounts include equity-based compensation expense allocated to WES by Anadarko (see Equity incentive plan and Anadarko incentive plans within this Note 5) and amounts charged by Anadarko under the WGP omnibus agreement. | |||||||
[7] | For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, includes interest expense recognized on the WES note payable to Anadarko (see Note 8) and interest imputed on the reimbursement payable to Anadarko for certain expenditures Anadarko incurred in 2011 related to the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants. WES repaid the WES note payable to Anadarko in June 2012, and repaid the reimbursement payable to Anadarko related to the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants in the fourth quarter of 2012. See Note receivable from and amounts payable to Anadarko within this Note 5. |
Consolidated_Balance_Sheets
Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | ||
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | ||||
Current assets | ' | ' | ||
Cash and cash equivalents | $57,083 | $422,556 | [1] | |
Accounts receivable, net | 75,695 | [2] | 48,550 | [1],[2] |
Other current assets | 8,912 | [3] | 6,998 | [1],[3] |
Total current assets | 141,690 | 478,104 | [1] | |
Note receivable - Anadarko | 260,000 | 260,000 | [1] | |
Property, plant and equipment | ' | ' | ||
Cost | 4,061,389 | 3,432,392 | [1] | |
Less accumulated depreciation | 817,489 | 714,436 | [1] | |
Net property, plant and equipment | 3,243,900 | 2,717,956 | [1] | |
Goodwill | 105,336 | 105,336 | [1] | |
Other intangible assets | 54,436 | 55,490 | [1] | |
Equity investments | 227,566 | 106,130 | [1] | |
Other assets | 28,078 | 27,798 | [1] | |
Total assets | 4,061,006 | 3,750,814 | [1] | |
Current liabilities | ' | ' | ||
Accounts and natural gas imbalance payables | 19,131 | [4] | 25,154 | [1],[4] |
Accrued ad valorem taxes | 18,472 | 11,949 | [1] | |
Income taxes payable | 190 | 552 | [1] | |
Accrued liabilities | 140,323 | [5] | 148,600 | [1],[5] |
Total current liabilities | 178,116 | 186,255 | [1] | |
Long-term debt - third parties | 1,518,110 | 1,168,278 | [1] | |
Deferred income taxes | 1,830 | 47,153 | [1] | |
Asset retirement obligations and other | 76,336 | 68,749 | [1] | |
Total long-term liabilities | 1,596,276 | 1,284,180 | [1] | |
Total liabilities | 1,774,392 | 1,470,435 | [1] | |
Equity and partners' capital | ' | ' | ||
Common units (218,895,515 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012) | 825,074 | 912,376 | [1] | |
Net investment by Anadarko | 0 | 199,960 | [1] | |
Total partners' capital | 825,074 | 1,112,336 | [1] | |
Noncontrolling interests | 1,461,540 | 1,168,043 | [1] | |
Total equity and partners' capital | 2,286,614 | 2,280,379 | [1] | |
Total liabilities, equity and partners' capital | 4,061,006 | 3,750,814 | [1] | |
Affiliated Entity [Member] | ' | ' | ||
Current assets | ' | ' | ||
Accounts receivable, net | 40,000 | 17,500 | ||
Other current assets | 100 | 400 | ||
Current liabilities | ' | ' | ||
Accounts and natural gas imbalance payables | 2,800 | 2,500 | ||
Accrued liabilities | $100 | $100 | ||
[1] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. | |||
[2] | Includes the impact of Western Gas Partners, LP’s equity offerings as described in Note 4 and common units issued in connection with the acquisition of the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest as described in Note 2. The $108.1 million increase to partners’ capital, together with net income attributable to Western Gas Equity Partners, LP, totaled $219.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. | |||
[3] | Other current assets includes natural gas imbalance receivables from affiliates of $0.1 million and $0.4 million as of September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively. | |||
[4] | Accounts and natural gas imbalance payables includes amounts payable to affiliates of $2.8 million and $2.5 million as of September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively. | |||
[5] | Accrued liabilities include amounts payable to affiliates of $0.1 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. |
Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | ||
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | ||||
Limited partners' capital account | $825,074 | $912,376 | [1] | |
Common units issued | 218,895,515 | 218,895,515 | ||
Units outstanding | 218,895,515 | 218,895,515 | ||
Accounts receivable, net | 75,695 | [2] | 48,550 | [1],[2] |
Other current assets | 8,912 | [3] | 6,998 | [1],[3] |
Accounts and natural gas imbalance payables | 19,131 | [4] | 25,154 | [1],[4] |
Accrued liabilities | 140,323 | [5] | 148,600 | [1],[5] |
Affiliated Entity [Member] | ' | ' | ||
Accounts receivable, net | 40,000 | 17,500 | ||
Other current assets | 100 | 400 | ||
Accounts and natural gas imbalance payables | 2,800 | 2,500 | ||
Accrued liabilities | $100 | $100 | ||
[1] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. | |||
[2] | Includes the impact of Western Gas Partners, LP’s equity offerings as described in Note 4 and common units issued in connection with the acquisition of the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest as described in Note 2. The $108.1 million increase to partners’ capital, together with net income attributable to Western Gas Equity Partners, LP, totaled $219.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. | |||
[3] | Other current assets includes natural gas imbalance receivables from affiliates of $0.1 million and $0.4 million as of September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively. | |||
[4] | Accounts and natural gas imbalance payables includes amounts payable to affiliates of $2.8 million and $2.5 million as of September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively. | |||
[5] | Accrued liabilities include amounts payable to affiliates of $0.1 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. |
Consolidated_Statement_of_Equi
Consolidated Statement of Equity and Partners' Capital (USD $) | Total | Chipeta Processing Limited Liability Company [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Net Investment by Anadarko [Member] | Common Units [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | |
In Thousands | Chipeta Processing Limited Liability Company [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | |||||||
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012 | [1] | $2,280,379 | ' | ' | $199,960 | $912,376 | $1,168,043 | ' | ' |
Net income | 193,926 | ' | ' | 4,637 | 106,727 | 82,562 | ' | ' | |
WES equity transactions, net | [2] | 418,517 | ' | ' | ' | 108,077 | 310,440 | ' | ' |
Contributions received from Chipeta noncontrolling interest owners | 2,247 | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2,247 | ' | ' | |
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners | ' | -8,001 | -94,117 | ' | ' | ' | -8,001 | -94,117 | |
Distributions to unitholders | -90,211 | ' | ' | ' | -90,211 | ' | ' | ' | |
Acquisitions from affiliates | -465,500 | ' | ' | -255,635 | -209,865 | ' | ' | ' | |
Contributions of equity-based compensation from Anadarko | 2,151 | ' | ' | ' | 2,093 | 58 | ' | ' | |
Net pre-acquisition contributions from (distributions to) Anadarko | 4,508 | ' | ' | 4,508 | ' | ' | ' | ' | |
Net distributions of other assets to Anadarko | -4,080 | ' | ' | ' | -4,080 | ' | ' | ' | |
Elimination of net deferred tax liabilities | 46,530 | ' | ' | 46,530 | ' | ' | ' | ' | |
Other | 265 | ' | ' | ' | -43 | 308 | ' | ' | |
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013 | $2,286,614 | ' | ' | ' | $825,074 | $1,461,540 | ' | ' | |
[1] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. | ||||||||
[2] | Includes the impact of Western Gas Partners, LP’s equity offerings as described in Note 4 and common units issued in connection with the acquisition of the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest as described in Note 2. The $108.1 million increase to partners’ capital, together with net income attributable to Western Gas Equity Partners, LP, totaled $219.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. |
Consolidated_Statement_of_Equi1
Consolidated Statement of Equity and Partners' Capital (Parenthetical) (Capital Units [Member], USD $) | 9 Months Ended |
In Millions, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013 |
Capital Units [Member] | ' |
Combined change in Partners' Capital from WES equity transactions, net and net income attributable to Western Gas Equity Partners, LP | $219.40 |
Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) | 9 Months Ended | |||
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | ||
Cash flows from operating activities | ' | ' | ||
Net income | $193,926 | $126,293 | [1] | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ' | ' | ||
Depreciation, amortization and impairments | 106,551 | 83,263 | [1] | |
Non-cash equity-based compensation expense | 2,783 | 2,769 | [1] | |
Deferred income taxes | 1,207 | -11,275 | [1] | |
Debt-related amortization and other items, net | 1,756 | 1,728 | [1] | |
Changes in assets and liabilities: | ' | ' | ||
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net | -27,539 | 47,272 | [1] | |
Increase (decrease) in accounts and natural gas imbalance payables and accrued liabilities, net | 6,700 | 29,272 | [1] | |
Change in other items, net | 687 | 2,234 | [1] | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | 286,071 | 281,556 | [1] | |
Cash flows from investing activities | ' | ' | ||
Capital expenditures | -469,678 | -403,949 | [1] | |
Investments in equity affiliates | -45,126 | -147 | [1] | |
Other | -1,524 | 0 | [1] | |
Net cash used in investing activities | -1,226,404 | -1,009,296 | [1] | |
Cash flows from financing activities | ' | ' | ||
Borrowings, net of debt issuance costs | 842,566 | 885,291 | [1] | |
Repayments of debt | -495,000 | -549,000 | [1] | |
Increase (decrease) in outstanding checks | -3,335 | 2,534 | [1] | |
Offering expenses from the issuance of WGP common units | -2,367 | 0 | ||
Distributions to WGP unitholders | -90,211 | 0 | [1] | |
Distributions to WES common unitholders | -94,117 | -71,890 | [1] | |
Net contributions from Anadarko | 4,508 | 57,190 | [1] | |
Net cash provided by financing activities | 574,860 | 548,675 | [1] | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | -365,473 | -179,065 | [1] | |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 422,556 | [1] | 226,559 | [1] |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 57,083 | 47,494 | [1] | |
Supplemental disclosures | ' | ' | ||
Net distributions to Anadarko of other assets | 4,080 | 10,790 | [1] | |
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest | 34,974 | 16,460 | [1] | |
Taxes paid | 0 | 495 | [1] | |
Western Gas Partners [Member] | ' | ' | ||
Cash flows from financing activities | ' | ' | ||
Proceeds from issuance of WES common units, net of offering expenses | 418,570 | 211,965 | [1] | |
Affiliated Entity [Member] | ' | ' | ||
Cash flows from investing activities | ' | ' | ||
Acquisitions | -469,884 | -605,960 | [1] | |
Proceeds from sale of assets to affiliates | 82 | 760 | [1] | |
Third Parties [Member] | ' | ' | ||
Cash flows from investing activities | ' | ' | ||
Acquisitions | -240,274 | 0 | [1] | |
Chipeta Processing Limited Liability Company [Member] | ' | ' | ||
Cash flows from financing activities | ' | ' | ||
Contributions received from Chipeta noncontrolling interest owners (including Anadarko) | 2,247 | 26,888 | [1] | |
Distributions to Chipeta noncontrolling interest owners (including Anadarko) | ($8,001) | ($14,303) | [1] | |
[1] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. |
Description_of_Business_and_Ba
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | ||||||||||
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | ' | |||||||||
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation | ' | |||||||||
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION | ||||||||||
General. Western Gas Equity Partners, LP is a Delaware master limited partnership formed in September 2012 to own partnership interests in Western Gas Partners, LP, a publicly traded partnership. Western Gas Equity Partners, LP was formed by converting WGR Holdings, LLC into a limited partnership and changing its name. Western Gas Partners, LP (together with its subsidiaries, “WES”) is a Delaware master limited partnership formed by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in 2007 to own, operate, acquire and develop midstream energy assets. | ||||||||||
For purposes of these consolidated financial statements, “WGP” refers to Western Gas Equity Partners, LP in its individual capacity or to Western Gas Equity Partners, LP and its subsidiaries, including Western Gas Holdings, LLC and WES, as the context requires. “WES GP” refers to Western Gas Holdings, LLC, individually as the general partner of WES, and excludes WES itself. WGP’s general partner, Western Gas Equity Holdings, LLC (“WGP GP”), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation. “Anadarko” refers to Anadarko Petroleum Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, excluding WGP and WGP GP. “WGP and Affiliates” refers to subsidiaries of Anadarko, including WGP in its individual capacity, and “affiliates” refers to subsidiaries of Anadarko, excluding WGP and its consolidated subsidiaries, and includes the interests in Fort Union Gas Gathering, LLC (“Fort Union”), White Cliffs Pipeline, LLC (“White Cliffs”), Rendezvous Gas Services, LLC (“Rendezvous”), and a joint venture, Enterprise EF78 LLC (“Mont Belvieu JV”). See Note 2. “Equity investment throughput” refers to WES’s 14.81% share of Fort Union and 22% share of Rendezvous gross volumes. | ||||||||||
WGP owns the following types of partnership interests in WES: (i) the 2.0% general partner interest in WES, held through a wholly owned subsidiary, WES GP; (ii) 100% of the incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”) in WES, held through WES GP, which entitle WGP to receive increasing percentages, up to the maximum level of 48.0%, of any incremental cash distributed by WES as certain target distribution levels are reached in any quarter; and (iii) a significant limited partner interest in WES. WES GP’s 2.0% general partner interest in WES constitutes substantially all of WES GP’s business, which primarily is to manage the affairs and operations of WES. Refer to Note 4 for a discussion of WGP’s holdings of WES equity. | ||||||||||
In December 2012, WGP completed its initial public offering (“IPO”) of 19,758,150 common units representing limited partner interests at a price of $22.00 per common unit, generating net proceeds of $412.0 million. WGP used approximately $409.4 million of the net proceeds from its IPO to purchase common and general partner units of WES. | ||||||||||
WES is engaged in the business of gathering, processing, compressing, treating and transporting natural gas, condensate, NGLs and crude oil for Anadarko, as well as third-party producers and customers. As of September 30, 2013, WES’s assets, exclusive of interests in Fort Union, White Cliffs, Rendezvous and the Mont Belvieu JV accounted for under the equity method, consisted of the following: | ||||||||||
Owned and | Operated | Non-Operated | ||||||||
Operated | Interests | Interests | ||||||||
Natural gas gathering systems | 13 | 1 | 5 | |||||||
Natural gas treating facilities | 8 | — | — | |||||||
Natural gas processing facilities | 8 | 3 | — | |||||||
NGL pipelines | 3 | — | — | |||||||
Natural gas pipelines | 3 | — | — | |||||||
These assets are located in South, East and West Texas, the Rocky Mountains (Colorado, Utah and Wyoming), north-central Pennsylvania, and the Mid-Continent (Kansas and Oklahoma). WES was also constructing the Lancaster processing facility in Northeast Colorado at the end of the third quarter of 2013. | ||||||||||
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (CONTINUED) | ||||||||||
Basis of presentation. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of WGP and entities in which it holds a controlling financial interest, including WES and WES GP. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Investments in noncontrolled entities over which WES, or WGP through its investment in WES, exercises significant influence are accounted for under the equity method. WGP proportionately consolidates WES’s 33.75% share of the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest and Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest (see Note 2) and WES’s 50% share of the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses attributable to the Newcastle system in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. | ||||||||||
The consolidated financial results of WES are included in WGP’s consolidated financial statements due to WGP’s 100% ownership interest in WES GP and WES GP’s control of WES. Throughout these notes to the consolidated financial statements, and to the extent material, any differences between the consolidated financial results of WGP and WES are discussed separately. WGP has no independent operations or material assets other than its partnership interests in WES. WGP’s consolidated financial statements differ from those of WES primarily as a result of (i) the presentation of noncontrolling interest ownership (attributable to the limited partner interests in WES held by the public and Anadarko Marcellus Midstream, L.L.C. (“AMM”) (see Note 2)), (ii) the elimination of WES GP’s investment in WES with WES GP’s underlying capital account, (iii) income tax expense and liabilities incurred by WGR Holdings, LLC, computed on a separate-return basis prior to its conversion into a limited partnership, and (iv) the general and administrative expenses incurred by WGP, which are separate from, and in addition to, those incurred by WES. | ||||||||||
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, utilizing historical experience and other methods considered reasonable under the particular circumstances. 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 furnished 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. | ||||||||||
For the nine months ended September 30, 2012, operating cash inflows and investing cash outflows in the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows include a reduction of $35.7 million attributable to the correction of an error discovered during analysis of accounts payable balances. This analysis revealed that certain 2012 invoices received, but not yet paid, were properly attributable to WES’s ongoing capital projects rather than to operating expenses. Management concluded that this misstatement was not material relative to the nine months ended September 30, 2012, and has corrected the error within the unaudited statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2012, as included in this report. | ||||||||||
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 WGP’s 2012 Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on March 28, 2013. Management believes that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. | ||||||||||
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (CONTINUED) | ||||||||||
Noncontrolling interests. The interests in Chipeta Processing LLC (“Chipeta”) held by a third-party member, and the limited partner interests in WES held by AMM and the public, are reflected as noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements for all periods presented. | ||||||||||
Chipeta. In July 2009, WES acquired a 51% interest in Chipeta and became party to Chipeta’s limited liability company agreement. On August 1, 2012, WES acquired Anadarko’s then remaining 24% membership interest in Chipeta (the “additional Chipeta interest”). Prior to this transaction, the interests in Chipeta held by Anadarko and a third-party member were reflected as noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements. The acquisition of Anadarko’s then remaining 24% interest was accounted for on a prospective basis as WES acquired an additional interest in an already-consolidated entity. As such, effective August 1, 2012, noncontrolling interest excludes the financial results and operations of the additional Chipeta interest. The remaining 25% membership interest held by the third-party member is reflected within noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements for all periods presented. See Note 2. | ||||||||||
WES. The publicly held limited partner interests in WES are reflected as noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements for all periods presented. In addition, in March 2013, WES acquired a 33.75% interest in both the Liberty and Rome gas gathering systems from AMM, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anadarko. As part of the consideration paid, WES issued 449,129 WES common units to AMM. The limited partner interest in WES held by AMM is reflected within noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013. See Note 2. | ||||||||||
Presentation of WES assets. References to “WES assets” refer collectively to the assets indirectly owned by WGP, through its partnership interests in WES, as of September 30, 2013. Because Anadarko controls WES through its ownership and control of WGP, which owns WES GP, each of WES’s acquisitions of assets from Anadarko has been considered a transfer of net assets between entities under common control. As such, WES assets acquired from Anadarko were initially recorded at Anadarko’s historic carrying value, which did not correlate to the total acquisition price paid by WES. Further, after an acquisition of assets from Anadarko, WES and WGP (by virtue of its consolidation of WES) may be required to recast their financial statements to include the activities of such assets as of the date of common control. See Note 2. | ||||||||||
For those periods requiring recast, the consolidated financial statements for periods prior to the acquisition of WES assets from Anadarko, including the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest, 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 WES had owned the assets during the periods reported. Net income attributable to WES assets for periods prior to WES’s acquisition of such assets is not allocated to the limited partners for purposes of calculating net income per common unit. |
Acquisitions
Acquisitions | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Business Combinations [Abstract] | ' | |||||||||||||||||||
Acquisitions | ' | |||||||||||||||||||
2. ACQUISITIONS | ||||||||||||||||||||
The following table presents the acquisitions completed by WES during 2012 and 2013, and identifies the funding sources for such acquisitions: | ||||||||||||||||||||
thousands except unit and | Acquisition | Percentage | Borrowings | Cash | WES Common | WES GP Units | ||||||||||||||
percent amounts | Date | Acquired | On Hand | Units Issued | Issued | |||||||||||||||
MGR (1) | 1/13/12 | 100 | % | $ | 299,000 | $ | 159,587 | 632,783 | 12,914 | |||||||||||
Chipeta (2) | 8/1/12 | 24 | % | — | 128,250 | 151,235 | 3,086 | |||||||||||||
Non-Operated Marcellus Interest (3) | 3/1/13 | 33.75 | % | 250,000 | 215,500 | 449,129 | — | |||||||||||||
Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest (4) | 3/8/13 | 33.75 | % | 133,500 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Mont Belvieu JV (5) | 6/5/13 | 25 | % | — | 78,129 | — | — | |||||||||||||
OTTCO (6) | 9/3/13 | 100 | % | 27,500 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
(1) | The assets acquired from Anadarko consist of (i) the Red Desert complex, which is located in the greater Green River Basin in southwestern Wyoming, and includes the Patrick Draw processing plant, the Red Desert processing plant, gathering lines, and related facilities, (ii) a 22% interest in Rendezvous, which owns a gathering system serving the Jonah and Pinedale Anticline fields in southwestern Wyoming, and (iii) certain additional midstream assets and equipment. These assets are collectively referred to as the “MGR assets” and the acquisition as the “MGR acquisition.” | |||||||||||||||||||
(2) | WES acquired Anadarko’s then remaining 24% membership interest in Chipeta (as described in Note 1). WES received distributions related to the additional interest beginning July 1, 2012. This transaction brought WES’s total membership interest in Chipeta to 75%. The remaining 25% membership interest in Chipeta held by a third-party member is reflected as noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements for all periods presented. | |||||||||||||||||||
(3) | WES acquired Anadarko’s 33.75% interest (non-operated) in the Liberty and Rome gas gathering systems, serving production from the Marcellus shale in north-central Pennsylvania. The interest acquired is referred to as the “Non-Operated Marcellus Interest” and the acquisition as the “Non-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition.” In connection with the issuance of WES common units, WES GP purchased 9,166 general partner units for consideration of $0.5 million in order to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest in WES. See Non-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition below for further information. | |||||||||||||||||||
(4) | The interest acquired from a third party consisted of a 33.75% interest in each of the Larry’s Creek, Seely and Warrensville gas gathering systems, which are operated by Anadarko and serve production from the Marcellus shale in north-central Pennsylvania. The interest acquired is referred to as the “Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest” and the acquisition as the “Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition.” See Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition below for further information, including the final allocation of the purchase price as of September 30, 2013. | |||||||||||||||||||
(5) | The acquisition from a third party consisted of a 25% interest in Enterprise EF78 LLC, an entity formed to design, construct, and own two fractionators located in Mont Belvieu, Texas. The interest acquired is accounted for under the equity method of accounting and is referred to as the “Mont Belvieu JV” and the acquisition as the “Mont Belvieu JV acquisition.” See Mont Belvieu JV acquisition below for further information. | |||||||||||||||||||
(6) | WES acquired Overland Trail Transmission, LLC (“OTTCO”), a Delaware limited liability company, from a third party. OTTCO owns and operates an intrastate pipeline which connects WES’s Red Desert and Granger complexes in southwestern Wyoming. The assets acquired are referred to as the “OTTCO pipeline” and the acquisition as the “OTTCO acquisition.” | |||||||||||||||||||
2. ACQUISITIONS (CONTINUED) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Non-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition. Because the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition was a transfer of net assets between entities under common control, WGP’s historical financial statements previously filed with the SEC have been recast in this Form 10-Q to include the results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest as if WES owned such assets for all periods presented. The consolidated financial statements for periods prior to WES’s acquisition of WES assets from Anadarko, including the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest, 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 WES had owned the assets during the periods reported. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The following table presents the revenue and net income impact of the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest on revenue and net income as presented in the historical consolidated statements of income: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | WGP Historical | Non-Operated Marcellus Interest | Combined | |||||||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 219,020 | $ | 15,714 | $ | 234,734 | ||||||||||||||
Net income | 33,854 | 7,062 | 40,916 | |||||||||||||||||
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | WGP Historical | Non-Operated Marcellus Interest | Combined | |||||||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 636,603 | $ | 43,117 | $ | 679,720 | ||||||||||||||
Net income | 106,711 | 19,582 | 126,293 | |||||||||||||||||
Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition. The Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition has been accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition were recorded in the consolidated balance sheet at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. Results of operations attributable to the Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest were included in the consolidated statements of income beginning on the acquisition date in the first quarter of 2013. | ||||||||||||||||||||
The following is the final allocation of the purchase price as of September 30, 2013, including $1.1 million of post-closing purchase price adjustments, to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition as of the acquisition date: | ||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | ||||||||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment | $ | 134,819 | ||||||||||||||||||
Asset retirement obligations | (174 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Total purchase price | $ | 134,645 | ||||||||||||||||||
The purchase price allocation is based on an assessment of the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition. The fair values of the interests in the land, right-of-way contracts, and gathering systems were based on the market and income approaches. All fair-value measurements of assets acquired and liabilities assumed are based on inputs that are not observable in the market and thus represent Level 3 inputs. | ||||||||||||||||||||
2. ACQUISITIONS (CONTINUED) | ||||||||||||||||||||
The following table presents the pro forma condensed financial information as if the Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2012: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||
thousands except per-unit amounts | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 764,128 | $ | 682,820 | ||||||||||||||||
Net income | 194,074 | 124,221 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to Western Gas Equity Partners, LP | 111,512 | 52,963 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income per common unit - basic and diluted | $ | 0.49 | n/a | |||||||||||||||||
The pro forma information is presented for illustration purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred had the Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition been completed at the assumed date, nor is it necessarily indicative of future operating results of the combined entity. The pro forma information in the table above includes $8.1 million of revenues and $0.5 million of operating expenses, excluding depreciation, amortization and impairments, attributable to the Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest that are included in the consolidated statement of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. The pro forma adjustments reflect pre-acquisition results of the Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest including (a) estimated revenues and expenses; (b) estimated depreciation and amortization based on the purchase price allocated to property, plant and equipment and estimated useful lives; and (c) interest on borrowings under WES’s revolving credit facility to finance the Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition. The pro forma adjustments include estimates and assumptions based on currently available information. Management believes the estimates and assumptions are reasonable, and the relative effects of the transaction are properly reflected. The pro forma information does not reflect any cost savings or other synergies anticipated as a result of the Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition, nor any future acquisition related expenses. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Mont Belvieu JV acquisition. The acquisition purchase price represented WES’s 25% share of construction costs incurred by the joint venture partner and 25% of the capitalized interest charged to the financial statements of the Mont Belvieu JV up to the date of acquisition. The allocated capitalized interest is reflected as a component of the equity investment balance recorded upon acquisition. Based on the total estimated net project cost, the construction of the fractionation facilities owned by the Mont Belvieu JV is considered a significant project and satisfies criteria for capitalization of interest. Capitalization of interest subsequent to the acquisition is treated as a basis difference between the cost of the investment and the underlying equity in the net assets of the Mont Belvieu JV. WES will begin to amortize the capitalized interest recognized subsequent to the acquisition upon completion of the facilities, and will reflect the amortization as an adjustment to equity earnings from the Mont Belvieu JV. |
Partnership_Distributions
Partnership Distributions | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | ||||||||||||
Distributions Made to Members or Limited Partners [Abstract] | ' | |||||||||||
Partnership Distributions | ' | |||||||||||
3. PARTNERSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS | ||||||||||||
WGP partnership distributions. WGP’s partnership agreement requires WGP to distribute all of its available cash (as defined in its partnership agreement) to WGP unitholders of record on the applicable record date within 55 days of the end of each quarter, beginning with the quarter ended December 31, 2012. The board of directors of WGP GP declared the following cash distributions to WGP unitholders for the periods presented: | ||||||||||||
thousands except per-unit amounts | Total Quarterly | Total Quarterly | Date of | |||||||||
Quarters Ended | Distribution | Cash Distribution | Distribution | |||||||||
per Unit | ||||||||||||
2012 | ||||||||||||
December 31 (pro-rated from IPO date) | $ | 0.03587 | $ | 7,852 | Feb-13 | |||||||
2013 | ||||||||||||
31-Mar | $ | 0.17875 | $ | 39,128 | May-13 | |||||||
30-Jun | $ | 0.1975 | $ | 43,232 | Aug-13 | |||||||
September 30 (1) | $ | 0.21375 | $ | 46,789 | Nov-13 | |||||||
-1 | On October 16, 2013, the board of directors of WGP GP declared a cash distribution to WGP unitholders of $0.21375 per unit, or $46.8 million in aggregate. The cash distribution is payable on November 21, 2013, to WGP unitholders of record at the close of business on October 31, 2013. | |||||||||||
WES partnership distributions. WES’s partnership agreement requires WES to distribute all of its available cash (as defined in WES’s partnership agreement) to WES unitholders of record on the applicable record date within 45 days of the end of each quarter. The board of directors of WES GP declared the following cash distributions to WES unitholders for the periods presented: | ||||||||||||
thousands except per-unit amounts | Total Quarterly | Total Quarterly | Date of | |||||||||
Quarters Ended | Distribution | Cash Distribution | Distribution | |||||||||
per Unit | ||||||||||||
2012 | ||||||||||||
31-Mar | $ | 0.46 | $ | 46,053 | May-12 | |||||||
30-Jun | $ | 0.48 | $ | 52,425 | August 2012 | |||||||
30-Sep | $ | 0.5 | $ | 56,346 | Nov-12 | |||||||
2013 | ||||||||||||
31-Mar | $ | 0.54 | $ | 70,143 | May 2013 | |||||||
30-Jun | $ | 0.56 | $ | 79,315 | Aug-13 | |||||||
September 30 (1) | $ | 0.58 | $ | 83,986 | Nov-13 | |||||||
(1) | On October 16, 2013, the board of directors of WES GP declared a cash distribution to WES unitholders of $0.58 per unit, or $84.0 million in aggregate, including incentive distributions. The cash distribution is payable on November 12, 2013, to WES unitholders of record at the close of business on October 31, 2013. |
Equity_and_Partners_Capital
Equity and Partners' Capital | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||
Partners' Capital Notes [Abstract] | ' | |||||||||||||||||
Equity and Partners' Capital | ' | |||||||||||||||||
4. EQUITY AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL | ||||||||||||||||||
Holdings of WGP equity. WGP’s common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WGP.” As of September 30, 2013, Anadarko held 199,137,365 WGP common units, representing a 91.0% limited partner interest in WGP, and, through its ownership of WGP GP, Anadarko indirectly held a non-economic general partner interest in WGP. The public held 19,758,150 WGP common units, representing a 9.0% limited partner interest in WGP. | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income per common unit. Net income attributable to periods prior to WGP’s IPO is attributable to subsidiaries of Anadarko and therefore not allocated to the limited partners for purposes of calculating net income per common unit. As a result, pre-IPO net income, representing the financial results prior to WGP’s IPO on December 12, 2012, has been excluded from the limited partners’ interest in net income. | ||||||||||||||||||
Holdings of WES equity. As of September 30, 2013, WGP held 49,296,205 WES common units, representing a 43.1% limited partner interest in WES, and, through its ownership of WES GP, WGP indirectly held 2,288,573 general partner units, representing a 2.0% general partner interest in WES, and 100% of WES’s IDRs. As of September 30, 2013, AMM, a subsidiary of Anadarko, separately held 449,129 WES common units, representing a 0.4% limited partner interest in WES, and the public held 62,429,577 WES common units, representing a 54.5% limited partner interest in WES, which are both reflected as noncontrolling interests within the consolidated financial statements of WGP (see Note 1 and Note 2). | ||||||||||||||||||
WES public equity offerings. WES completed the following public offerings of its common units during 2012 and 2013: | ||||||||||||||||||
thousands except unit | WES Common | WES GP Units | Price Per | Underwriting | Net | |||||||||||||
and per-unit amounts | Units Issued (1) | Issued (2) | Unit | Discount and | Proceeds to WES | |||||||||||||
Other Offering | ||||||||||||||||||
Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||
June 2012 equity offering | 5,000,000 | 102,041 | $ | 43.88 | $ | 7,468 | $ | 216,409 | ||||||||||
May 2013 equity offering | 7,015,000 | 143,163 | 61.18 | 13,203 | 424,733 | |||||||||||||
(1) | Includes the issuance of 915,000 WES common units pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option granted in connection with the May 2013 equity offering. | |||||||||||||||||
(2) | Represents general partner units of WES issued to WES GP in exchange for WES GP’s proportionate capital contribution to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest. | |||||||||||||||||
In addition, pursuant to WES’s registration statement filed with the SEC in August 2012 authorizing the issuance of up to an aggregate of $125.0 million of WES common units (the “Continuous Offering Program”), WES initiated trades totaling 218,750 common units during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, at an average price per unit of $58.22, generating gross proceeds of $12.7 million (including WES GP’s proportionate capital contribution and before $0.1 million of invoiced offering expenses), of which $2.7 million had been received as of September 30, 2013. | ||||||||||||||||||
WES common and general partner units. The following table summarizes WES common and general partner units issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2013: | ||||||||||||||||||
WES Common | WES General | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Units | Partner Units | |||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2012 | 104,660,553 | 2,135,930 | 106,796,483 | |||||||||||||||
Non-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition | 449,129 | 9,166 | 458,295 | |||||||||||||||
Long-Term Incentive Plan awards | 6,879 | 140 | 7,019 | |||||||||||||||
May 2013 equity offering | 7,015,000 | 143,163 | 7,158,163 | |||||||||||||||
Continuous Offering Program | 43,350 | 174 | 43,524 | |||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2013 | 112,174,911 | 2,288,573 | 114,463,484 | |||||||||||||||
Transactions_With_Affiliates
Transactions With Affiliates | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Related Party Fees and Other Arrangements, Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Limited Partnership (LP) [Abstract] | ' | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transactions with Affiliates | ' | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
5. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Affiliate transactions. Revenues from affiliates include amounts earned by WES from services provided to Anadarko as well as from the sale of residue, condensate and NGLs to Anadarko. In addition, WES purchases natural gas from an affiliate of Anadarko pursuant to gas purchase agreements. Operating and maintenance expense includes amounts accrued for or paid to affiliates for the operation of WES assets, whether in providing services to affiliates or to third parties, including field labor, measurement and analysis, and other disbursements. A portion of general and administrative expenses is paid by Anadarko, which results in affiliate transactions pursuant to the reimbursement provisions of the omnibus agreements of WES and WGP. 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. See Note 2 for further information related to contributions of assets to WES by Anadarko. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 acquisition of WES assets, third-party sales and purchases related to such assets were received or paid in cash by Anadarko within its centralized cash management system. Anadarko charged or credited WES interest at a variable rate on outstanding affiliate balances for the periods these balances remained outstanding. The outstanding affiliate balances were entirely settled through an adjustment to net investment by Anadarko in connection with the acquisition of WES assets. Subsequent to the acquisition of WES assets from Anadarko, transactions related to such assets are cash-settled directly with third parties and with Anadarko affiliates, and affiliate-based interest expense on current intercompany balances is not charged. Chipeta cash settles its transactions directly with third parties and Anadarko, as well as with the other subsidiaries of WES. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note receivable from and amounts payable to Anadarko. Concurrently with the closing of WES’s May 2008 IPO, WES 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 approximately $301.5 million and $334.8 million at September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, 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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In 2008, WES entered into a five-year $175.0 million term loan agreement with Anadarko, which was repaid in full in June 2012 using the proceeds from the issuance of 4.000% Senior Notes due 2022. See Note 8. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity price swap agreements. WES has commodity price swap agreements with Anadarko to mitigate exposure to commodity price volatility that would otherwise be present as a result of the purchase and sale of natural gas, condensate or NGLs. 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 at the Granger, Hilight, Hugoton, Newcastle, MGR and Wattenberg assets, with various expiration dates through December 2016. 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. WES has not entered into any new commodity price swap agreements since the fourth quarter of 2011. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (CONTINUED) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Below is a summary of the fixed price ranges on WES’s outstanding commodity price swap agreements as of September 30, 2013: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
per barrel except natural gas | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ethane | $ | 18.32 | − | 30.1 | $ | 18.36 | − | 30.53 | $ | 18.41 | − | 23.41 | $ | 23.11 | ||||||||||||
Propane | $ | 45.9 | − | 55.84 | $ | 46.47 | − | 53.78 | $ | 47.08 | − | 52.99 | $ | 52.9 | ||||||||||||
Isobutane | $ | 60.44 | − | 77.66 | $ | 61.24 | − | 75.13 | $ | 62.09 | − | 74.02 | $ | 73.89 | ||||||||||||
Normal butane | $ | 53.2 | − | 68.24 | $ | 53.89 | − | 66.01 | $ | 54.62 | − | 65.04 | $ | 64.93 | ||||||||||||
Natural gasoline | $ | 70.89 | − | 92.23 | $ | 71.85 | − | 83.04 | $ | 72.88 | − | 81.82 | $ | 81.68 | ||||||||||||
Condensate | $ | 74.04 | − | 85.84 | $ | 75.22 | − | 83.04 | $ | 76.47 | − | 81.82 | $ | 81.68 | ||||||||||||
Natural gas (per MMbtu) | $ | 3.75 | − | 6.09 | $ | 4.45 | − | 6.2 | $ | 4.66 | − | 5.96 | $ | 4.87 | ||||||||||||
The following table summarizes realized gains and losses on commodity price swap agreements: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | 2013 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Gains (losses) on commodity price swap agreements related to sales: (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas sales | $ | 6,923 | $ | 9,132 | $ | 14,707 | $ | 30,728 | ||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas liquids sales | 27,541 | 25,986 | 83,049 | 46,020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 34,464 | 35,118 | 97,756 | 76,748 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Losses on commodity price swap agreements related to purchases (2) | (23,902 | ) | (25,803 | ) | (66,613 | ) | (70,342 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net gains (losses) on commodity price swap agreements | $ | 10,562 | $ | 9,315 | $ | 31,143 | $ | 6,406 | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) | Reported in affiliate natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales in the consolidated statements of income in the period in which the related sale is recorded. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(2) | Reported in cost of product in the consolidated statements of income in the period in which the related purchase is recorded. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gas gathering and processing agreements. WES has significant gas gathering and processing arrangements with affiliates of Anadarko on a majority of its systems. Approximately 56% and 63% of WES’s gathering, transportation and treating throughput (excluding equity investment throughput and volumes measured in barrels) for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 58% and 64% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, was attributable to natural gas production owned or controlled by Anadarko. Approximately 58% and 61% of WES’s processing throughput (excluding equity investment throughput and volumes measured in barrels) for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and 56% and 59% for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, was attributable to natural gas production owned or controlled by Anadarko. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (CONTINUED) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equipment purchases and sales. The following table summarizes WES’s purchases from and sales to Anadarko of pipe and equipment: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | Purchases | Sales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Consideration (1) | $ | 6,167 | $ | 18,946 | $ | 82 | $ | 760 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net carrying value | 2,039 | 6,765 | 34 | 392 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Partners’ capital adjustment | $ | 4,128 | $ | 12,181 | $ | 48 | $ | 368 | ||||||||||||||||||
-1 | Includes a payable of $1.8 million for pipe and equipment purchased in September 2013. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western Gas Equity Partners, LP 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“WGP LTIP”). During the nine months ended September 30, 2013, WGP GP awarded phantom units under the WGP LTIP to its independent directors, which will vest in January 2014, which is one year from the grant date. Compensation expense is recognized ratably over the vesting period and was approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western Gas Partners, LP 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“WES LTIP”). WES GP awards phantom units under the WES LTIP primarily to its independent directors and its Chief Executive Officer. 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 and $0.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity incentive plan and Anadarko incentive plans. General and administrative expenses include equity-based compensation costs allocated by Anadarko for grants made pursuant to (i) the Western Gas Holdings, LLC Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the “Incentive Plan”) and (ii) the Anadarko Petroleum Corporation 2008 and 2012 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plans (“Anadarko Incentive Plans”). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses included $0.8 million and $2.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $0.8 million and $2.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, of equity-based compensation expense for awards granted to the executive officers of WES GP and other employees under the Anadarko Incentive Plans, which was allocated to WES by Anadarko. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, general and administrative expenses included $8.6 million and $13.9 million, respectively, of compensation expense for grants of Unit Value Rights, Unit Appreciation Rights (“UARs”) and Distribution Equivalent Rights under the Incentive Plan to certain executive officers of WES GP as a component of their compensation, which was allocated to WES by Anadarko. Awards outstanding under the Incentive Plan at September 30, 2012, were valued at $1,053 per UAR. WGP’s IPO in December 2012 resulted in the vesting of all then unvested Incentive Plan awards and the effective termination of the Incentive Plan. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES (CONTINUED) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Summary of affiliate transactions. The following table summarizes affiliate transactions, which include revenue from affiliates, reimbursement of operating expenses and purchases of natural gas: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | 2013 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues (1) | $ | 217,624 | $ | 180,605 | $ | 603,214 | $ | 519,460 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cost of product (1) | 33,753 | 42,839 | 97,801 | 115,603 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Operation and maintenance (2) | 13,469 | 12,638 | 41,021 | 38,040 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative (3) | 6,090 | 14,227 | 17,981 | 30,811 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | 53,312 | 69,704 | 156,803 | 184,454 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest income, net (4) | 4,225 | 4,225 | 12,675 | 12,675 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense (5) | — | 81 | — | 2,684 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to WGP unitholders (6) | 39,329 | — | 82,068 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to WES unitholders (7) | 252 | — | 494 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Contributions from Anadarko as a Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner (8) | — | 2,148 | — | 12,588 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to Anadarko as a Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner (8) | — | 1,464 | — | 6,528 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | Represents amounts 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 WES assets, as well as expenses incurred by Anadarko on a historical basis related to WES assets prior to the acquisition of such assets by WES. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) | Represents general and administrative expense incurred on and subsequent to the date of WES’s acquisition of WES assets, as well as a management services fee for reimbursement of expenses incurred by Anadarko for periods prior to the acquisition of WES assets by WES. These amounts include equity-based compensation expense allocated to WES by Anadarko (see Equity incentive plan and Anadarko incentive plans within this Note 5) and amounts charged by Anadarko under the WGP omnibus agreement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(4) | Represents interest income recognized on the note receivable from Anadarko. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(5) | For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, includes interest expense recognized on the WES note payable to Anadarko (see Note 8) and interest imputed on the reimbursement payable to Anadarko for certain expenditures Anadarko incurred in 2011 related to the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants. WES repaid the WES note payable to Anadarko in June 2012, and repaid the reimbursement payable to Anadarko related to the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants in the fourth quarter of 2012. See Note receivable from and amounts payable to Anadarko within this Note 5. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(6) | Represents distributions paid under WGP’s partnership agreement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(7) | Represents distributions paid under WES’s partnership agreement (see Holdings of WES equity in Note 4). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(8) | As described in Note 2, WES acquired Anadarko’s then remaining 24% membership interest in Chipeta on August 1, 2012, and accounted for the acquisition on a prospective basis. As such, contributions from noncontrolling interest owners and distributions to noncontrolling interest owners subsequent to the acquisition date no longer reflect contributions from or distributions to Anadarko. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Concentration of credit risk. Anadarko was the only customer from whom revenues exceeded 10% of consolidated revenues for all periods presented on the consolidated statements of income. |
Property_Plant_and_Equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | |||||||||||
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] | ' | ||||||||||
Property, Plant and Equipment | ' | ||||||||||
6. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT | |||||||||||
A summary of the historical cost of property, plant and equipment is as follows: | |||||||||||
thousands | Estimated Useful Life | 30-Sep-13 | December 31, 2012 | ||||||||
Land | n/a | $ | 2,584 | $ | 501 | ||||||
Gathering systems | 3 to 47 years | 3,610,879 | 2,911,572 | ||||||||
Pipelines and equipment | 15 to 45 years | 119,278 | 91,126 | ||||||||
Assets under construction | n/a | 318,107 | 422,002 | ||||||||
Other | 3 to 25 years | 10,541 | 7,191 | ||||||||
Total property, plant and equipment | 4,061,389 | 3,432,392 | |||||||||
Accumulated depreciation | 817,489 | 714,436 | |||||||||
Net property, plant and equipment | $ | 3,243,900 | $ | 2,717,956 | |||||||
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. See Note 7. | |||||||||||
During the second quarter of 2013, WES recognized a $1.0 million impairment primarily related to the cancellation of various capital projects by the third-party operator of the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. |
Components_of_Working_Capital
Components of Working Capital | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | |||||||||
Components Of Working Capital [Abstract] | ' | ||||||||
Components of Working Capital | ' | ||||||||
7. COMPONENTS OF WORKING CAPITAL | |||||||||
A summary of other current assets is as follows: | |||||||||
thousands | September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2013 | 2012 | ||||||||
Natural gas liquids inventory | $ | 2,438 | $ | 1,678 | |||||
Natural gas imbalance receivables | 2,729 | 1,663 | |||||||
Prepaid insurance | 2,083 | 1,897 | |||||||
Other | 1,662 | 1,760 | |||||||
Total other current assets | $ | 8,912 | $ | 6,998 | |||||
A summary of accrued liabilities is as follows: | |||||||||
thousands | September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2013 | 2012 | ||||||||
Accrued capital expenditures | $ | 100,876 | $ | 112,311 | |||||
Accrued plant purchases | 20,738 | 16,350 | |||||||
Accrued interest expense | 16,620 | 15,868 | |||||||
Short-term asset retirement obligations | 1,187 | 1,711 | |||||||
Short-term remediation and reclamation obligations | 609 | 799 | |||||||
Other | 293 | 1,561 | |||||||
Total accrued liabilities | $ | 140,323 | $ | 148,600 | |||||
Debt_and_Interest_Expense
Debt and Interest Expense | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Debt Instruments [Abstract] | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Debt and Interest Expense | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
8. DEBT AND INTEREST EXPENSE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following table presents outstanding debt as of September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
30-Sep-13 | 31-Dec-12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | Principal | Carrying | Fair | Principal | Carrying | Fair | |||||||||||||||||||
Value | Value (1) | Value | Value (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4.000% Senior Notes due 2022 | $ | 670,000 | $ | 673,363 | $ | 651,580 | $ | 670,000 | $ | 673,617 | $ | 669,928 | |||||||||||||
5.375% Senior Notes due 2021 | 500,000 | 495,042 | 531,210 | 500,000 | 494,661 | 499,946 | |||||||||||||||||||
WES revolving credit facility | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
2.600% Senior Notes due 2018 | 250,000 | 249,705 | 249,134 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Total debt outstanding | $ | 1,520,000 | $ | 1,518,110 | $ | 1,531,924 | $ | 1,170,000 | $ | 1,168,278 | $ | 1,169,874 | |||||||||||||
(1) | Fair value is measured using Level 2 inputs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Debt activity. The following table presents the debt activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | Carrying Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2012 | $ | 1,168,278 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
WES revolving credit facility borrowings | 595,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Repayments of WES revolving credit facility | (495,000 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of 2.600% Senior Notes due 2018 | 250,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | (168 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of September 30, 2013 | $ | 1,518,110 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
WES Senior Notes. In August 2013, WES completed the offering of $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.600% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “2018 Notes”) at a price to the public of 99.879% of the face amount. Including the effects of the issuance and underwriting discounts, the effective interest rate of the 2018 Notes is 2.806%. Interest will be paid semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing on February 15, 2014. The 2018 Notes will mature on August 15, 2018, unless redeemed, in whole or in part, prior to maturity. Proceeds (net of underwriting discount of $1.5 million, original issue discount and debt issuance costs) were used to repay amounts then outstanding under WES’s $800.0 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility (“WES RCF”). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
In June 2012, WES completed the offering of $520.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.000% Senior Notes due 2022 at a price to the public of 99.194% of the face amount. In October 2012, WES issued an additional $150.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.000% Senior Notes due 2022 at a price to the public of 105.178% of the face amount. The October 2012 notes and the June 2012 notes were issued under the same indenture and are considered a single class of securities, collectively referred to as the “2022 Notes.” | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
In May 2011, WES completed the offering of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “2021 Notes”) at a price to the public of 98.778% of the face amount. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
At September 30, 2013, WES was in compliance with all covenants under the indentures governing the 2021 Notes, 2022 Notes and the 2018 Notes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
8. DEBT AND INTEREST EXPENSE (CONTINUED) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest rate agreements. In May 2012, WES entered into U.S. Treasury Rate lock agreements to mitigate the risk of rising interest rates prior to the issuance of the 2022 Notes. WES settled the rate lock agreements simultaneously with the June 2012 offering of the 2022 Notes, realizing a loss of $1.7 million, which is included in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of income. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
WES note payable to Anadarko. In 2008, WES entered into a five-year $175.0 million term loan agreement with Anadarko. The interest rate was fixed at 2.82% prior to June 2012 when the WES note payable to Anadarko was repaid in full with proceeds from the June 2012 offering of the 2022 Notes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
WES revolving credit facility. At September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, the interest rate on the WES RCF was 1.68% and 1.71%, respectively. WES is required to pay a quarterly facility fee currently ranging from 0.20% to 0.35% of the commitment amount (whether used or unused), based upon its senior unsecured debt rating. The facility fee rate was 0.25% at September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
At September 30, 2013, WES had $100.0 million of outstanding borrowings, $12.8 million in outstanding letters of credit issued and $687.2 million available for borrowing under the WES RCF. At September 30, 2013, WES was in compliance with all covenants under the WES RCF. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2021 Notes, the 2022 Notes, the 2018 Notes and obligations under the WES RCF are recourse to WES GP, and as of December 31, 2012, WES GP was indemnified by a wholly owned subsidiary of Anadarko, Western Gas Resources, Inc. (“WGRI”), against any claims made against WES GP under the 2022 Notes, the 2021 Notes and/or the WES RCF. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
In connection with the acquisition of the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest in March 2013, WES GP and another wholly owned subsidiary of Anadarko entered into an indemnification agreement (the “2013 Indemnification Agreement”) whereby such subsidiary agreed to indemnify WES GP for any recourse liability it may have for WES RCF borrowings, or other debt financing, attributable to the acquisitions of the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest or the Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest. As of September 30, 2013, the 2013 Indemnification Agreement applied to the $250.0 million of 2018 Notes. WES GP and WGRI also amended and restated the existing indemnity agreement between them to reduce the amount for which WGRI would indemnify WES GP by an amount equal to any amounts payable to WES GP under the 2013 Indemnification Agreement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
WGP working capital facility. On November 1, 2012, WGP entered into a $30.0 million working capital facility (the “WGP WCF”) with Anadarko as the lender. The facility is available exclusively to fund WGP’s working capital borrowings. Borrowings under the facility will mature on November 1, 2017, and will bear interest at London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 1.50%. The interest rate was 1.68% and 1.71% at September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
WGP is required to reduce all borrowings under the WGP WCF to zero for a period of at least 15 consecutive days during the twelve month period commencing on November 1, 2012, and during the twelve month period commencing on each anniversary thereof. As of September 30, 2013, WGP had no outstanding borrowings under the WGP WCF, and WGP was in compliance with all covenants under the WGP WCF. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
8. DEBT AND INTEREST EXPENSE (CONTINUED) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense. The following table summarizes the amounts included in interest expense: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | 2013 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Third parties | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense on long-term debt | $ | 14,994 | $ | 11,919 | $ | 43,783 | $ | 28,036 | |||||||||||||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs and commitment fees (1) | 1,135 | 1,201 | 3,252 | 3,225 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Capitalized interest | (3,111 | ) | (2,224 | ) | (9,552 | ) | (3,827 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Total interest expense – third parties | 13,018 | 10,896 | 37,483 | 27,434 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Affiliates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense on WES note payable to Anadarko (2) | — | — | — | 2,440 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense on affiliate balances (3) | — | 81 | — | 244 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total interest expense – affiliates | — | 81 | — | 2,684 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | $ | 13,018 | $ | 10,977 | $ | 37,483 | $ | 30,118 | |||||||||||||||||
(1) | For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, includes $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of amortization of (i) the original issue discount for the June 2012 offering of the 2022 Notes, partially offset by the original issue premium for the October 2012 offering of the 2022 Notes, (ii) original issue discount for the 2021 Notes and 2018 Notes and (iii) underwriters’ fees. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, includes $0.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of amortization of the original issue discount and underwriters’ fees for the 2022 Notes issued in June 2012 and the 2021 Notes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(2) | In June 2012, the WES note payable to Anadarko was repaid in full. See WES note payable to Anadarko within this Note 8. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) | Imputed interest expense on the reimbursement payable to Anadarko for certain expenditures Anadarko incurred in 2011 related to the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants. In the fourth quarter of 2012, WES repaid the reimbursement payable to Anadarko associated with the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants. |
Commitments_and_Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies | 9 Months Ended |
Sep. 30, 2013 | |
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | ' |
Commitments and Contingencies | ' |
9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES | |
Litigation and legal proceedings. In March 2011, DCP Midstream LP (“DCP”) filed a lawsuit against Anadarko and others, including a subsidiary of WES, Kerr-McGee Gathering LLC, in Weld County District Court (the “Court”) in Colorado, alleging that Anadarko and its affiliates diverted gas from DCP’s gathering and processing facilities in breach of certain dedication agreements. In addition to various claims against Anadarko, DCP is claiming unjust enrichment and other damages against Kerr-McGee Gathering LLC, the entity which holds the Wattenberg assets. Anadarko countersued DCP asserting that DCP has not properly allocated values and charges to Anadarko for the gas that DCP gathers and/or processes, and seeks a judgment that DCP has no valid gathering or processing rights to much of the gas production it is claiming, in addition to other claims. | |
In July 2011, the Court denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss without ruling on the merits and the case is in the discovery phase. Trial is set for April 2014. Management does not believe the outcome of this proceeding will have a material effect on the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of WGP. WES intends to vigorously defend this litigation. Furthermore, without regard to the merit of DCP’s claims, management believes that WES has adequate contractual indemnities covering the claims against it in this lawsuit. | |
In addition, from time to time, WGP, through its partnership interests in WES, 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 a final disposition could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of WGP. | |
9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED) | |
Other commitments. WES has short-term payment obligations, or commitments, related to its capital spending programs, as well as those of its unconsolidated affiliates. As of September 30, 2013, WES had unconditional payment obligations for services to be rendered or products to be delivered in connection with its capital projects of approximately $61.3 million, the majority of which is expected to be paid in the next twelve months. These commitments relate primarily to the continued construction of the Lancaster plant and an expansion project at the Fort Lupton compressor station in the Wattenberg system. In addition, as of September 30, 2013, and in conjunction with the Mont Belvieu JV acquisition, WES is committed to fund 25%, or approximately $13.6 million, of the total remaining estimated net project cost to complete the construction of the fractionation facilities over the next six months (see Note 2). | |
Lease commitments. Anadarko, on WES’s behalf, has entered into lease agreements for corporate offices, shared field offices and a warehouse supporting WES’s operations. The leases for the corporate offices and shared field offices extend through 2017 and 2018, respectively, and the lease for the warehouse extends through February 2014 and includes an early termination clause. | |
Rent expense associated with the office, warehouse and equipment leases was $0.6 million and $2.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $0.8 million and $2.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. |
Summary_of_Significant_Account
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 9 Months Ended |
Sep. 30, 2013 | |
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | ' |
Business combinations policy | ' |
Presentation of WES assets. References to “WES assets” refer collectively to the assets indirectly owned by WGP, through its partnership interests in WES, as of September 30, 2013. Because Anadarko controls WES through its ownership and control of WGP, which owns WES GP, each of WES’s acquisitions of assets from Anadarko has been considered a transfer of net assets between entities under common control. As such, WES assets acquired from Anadarko were initially recorded at Anadarko’s historic carrying value, which did not correlate to the total acquisition price paid by WES. Further, after an acquisition of assets from Anadarko, WES and WGP (by virtue of its consolidation of WES) may be required to recast their financial statements to include the activities of such assets as of the date of common control. See Note 2. | |
For those periods requiring recast, the consolidated financial statements for periods prior to the acquisition of WES assets from Anadarko, including the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest, 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 WES had owned the assets during the periods reported. Net income attributable to WES assets for periods prior to WES’s acquisition of such assets is not allocated to the limited partners for purposes of calculating net income per common unit. | |
Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition. The Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition has been accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition were recorded in the consolidated balance sheet at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. Results of operations attributable to the Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest were included in the consolidated statements of income beginning on the acquisition date in the first quarter of 2013. | |
Net income per common unit policy | ' |
Net income per common unit. Net income attributable to periods prior to WGP’s IPO is attributable to subsidiaries of Anadarko and therefore not allocated to the limited partners for purposes of calculating net income per common unit. As a result, pre-IPO net income, representing the financial results prior to WGP’s IPO on December 12, 2012, has been excluded from the limited partners’ interest in net income. | |
Fair value policy | ' |
Note receivable from and amounts payable to Anadarko. Concurrently with the closing of WES’s May 2008 IPO, WES 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 approximately $301.5 million and $334.8 million at September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, 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. | |
Capitalized interest policy | ' |
Mont Belvieu JV acquisition. The acquisition purchase price represented WES’s 25% share of construction costs incurred by the joint venture partner and 25% of the capitalized interest charged to the financial statements of the Mont Belvieu JV up to the date of acquisition. The allocated capitalized interest is reflected as a component of the equity investment balance recorded upon acquisition. Based on the total estimated net project cost, the construction of the fractionation facilities owned by the Mont Belvieu JV is considered a significant project and satisfies criteria for capitalization of interest. Capitalization of interest subsequent to the acquisition is treated as a basis difference between the cost of the investment and the underlying equity in the net assets of the Mont Belvieu JV. WES will begin to amortize the capitalized interest recognized subsequent to the acquisition upon completion of the facilities, and will reflect the amortization as an adjustment to equity earnings from the Mont Belvieu JV. |
Description_of_Business_and_Ba1
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation (tables) | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | ||||||||||
Accounting Policies [Abstract] | ' | |||||||||
Asset Table | ' | |||||||||
As of September 30, 2013, WES’s assets, exclusive of interests in Fort Union, White Cliffs, Rendezvous and the Mont Belvieu JV accounted for under the equity method, consisted of the following: | ||||||||||
Owned and | Operated | Non-Operated | ||||||||
Operated | Interests | Interests | ||||||||
Natural gas gathering systems | 13 | 1 | 5 | |||||||
Natural gas treating facilities | 8 | — | — | |||||||
Natural gas processing facilities | 8 | 3 | — | |||||||
NGL pipelines | 3 | — | — | |||||||
Natural gas pipelines | 3 | — | — | |||||||
Acquisitions_tables
Acquisitions (tables) | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Business Combinations [Abstract] | ' | |||||||||||||||||||
Acquisitions Table | ' | |||||||||||||||||||
The following table presents the acquisitions completed by WES during 2012 and 2013, and identifies the funding sources for such acquisitions: | ||||||||||||||||||||
thousands except unit and | Acquisition | Percentage | Borrowings | Cash | WES Common | WES GP Units | ||||||||||||||
percent amounts | Date | Acquired | On Hand | Units Issued | Issued | |||||||||||||||
MGR (1) | 1/13/12 | 100 | % | $ | 299,000 | $ | 159,587 | 632,783 | 12,914 | |||||||||||
Chipeta (2) | 8/1/12 | 24 | % | — | 128,250 | 151,235 | 3,086 | |||||||||||||
Non-Operated Marcellus Interest (3) | 3/1/13 | 33.75 | % | 250,000 | 215,500 | 449,129 | — | |||||||||||||
Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest (4) | 3/8/13 | 33.75 | % | 133,500 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Mont Belvieu JV (5) | 6/5/13 | 25 | % | — | 78,129 | — | — | |||||||||||||
OTTCO (6) | 9/3/13 | 100 | % | 27,500 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
(1) | The assets acquired from Anadarko consist of (i) the Red Desert complex, which is located in the greater Green River Basin in southwestern Wyoming, and includes the Patrick Draw processing plant, the Red Desert processing plant, gathering lines, and related facilities, (ii) a 22% interest in Rendezvous, which owns a gathering system serving the Jonah and Pinedale Anticline fields in southwestern Wyoming, and (iii) certain additional midstream assets and equipment. These assets are collectively referred to as the “MGR assets” and the acquisition as the “MGR acquisition.” | |||||||||||||||||||
(2) | WES acquired Anadarko’s then remaining 24% membership interest in Chipeta (as described in Note 1). WES received distributions related to the additional interest beginning July 1, 2012. This transaction brought WES’s total membership interest in Chipeta to 75%. The remaining 25% membership interest in Chipeta held by a third-party member is reflected as noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements for all periods presented. | |||||||||||||||||||
(3) | WES acquired Anadarko’s 33.75% interest (non-operated) in the Liberty and Rome gas gathering systems, serving production from the Marcellus shale in north-central Pennsylvania. The interest acquired is referred to as the “Non-Operated Marcellus Interest” and the acquisition as the “Non-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition.” In connection with the issuance of WES common units, WES GP purchased 9,166 general partner units for consideration of $0.5 million in order to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest in WES. See Non-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition below for further information. | |||||||||||||||||||
(4) | The interest acquired from a third party consisted of a 33.75% interest in each of the Larry’s Creek, Seely and Warrensville gas gathering systems, which are operated by Anadarko and serve production from the Marcellus shale in north-central Pennsylvania. The interest acquired is referred to as the “Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest” and the acquisition as the “Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition.” See Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition below for further information, including the final allocation of the purchase price as of September 30, 2013. | |||||||||||||||||||
(5) | The acquisition from a third party consisted of a 25% interest in Enterprise EF78 LLC, an entity formed to design, construct, and own two fractionators located in Mont Belvieu, Texas. The interest acquired is accounted for under the equity method of accounting and is referred to as the “Mont Belvieu JV” and the acquisition as the “Mont Belvieu JV acquisition.” See Mont Belvieu JV acquisition below for further information. | |||||||||||||||||||
(6) | WES acquired Overland Trail Transmission, LLC (“OTTCO”), a Delaware limited liability company, from a third party. OTTCO owns and operates an intrastate pipeline which connects WES’s Red Desert and Granger complexes in southwestern Wyoming. The assets acquired are referred to as the “OTTCO pipeline” and the acquisition as the “OTTCO acquisition.” | |||||||||||||||||||
Impact to Historical Consolidated Statement of Income Table | ' | |||||||||||||||||||
The following table presents the revenue and net income impact of the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest on revenue and net income as presented in the historical consolidated statements of income: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | WGP Historical | Non-Operated Marcellus Interest | Combined | |||||||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 219,020 | $ | 15,714 | $ | 234,734 | ||||||||||||||
Net income | 33,854 | 7,062 | 40,916 | |||||||||||||||||
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | WGP Historical | Non-Operated Marcellus Interest | Combined | |||||||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 636,603 | $ | 43,117 | $ | 679,720 | ||||||||||||||
Net income | 106,711 | 19,582 | 126,293 | |||||||||||||||||
Purchase Price Allocation Table | ' | |||||||||||||||||||
The following is the final allocation of the purchase price as of September 30, 2013, including $1.1 million of post-closing purchase price adjustments, to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition as of the acquisition date: | ||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | ||||||||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment | $ | 134,819 | ||||||||||||||||||
Asset retirement obligations | (174 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Total purchase price | $ | 134,645 | ||||||||||||||||||
Pro Forma Condensed Financial Information Table | ' | |||||||||||||||||||
The following table presents the pro forma condensed financial information as if the Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2012: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||
thousands except per-unit amounts | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 764,128 | $ | 682,820 | ||||||||||||||||
Net income | 194,074 | 124,221 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to Western Gas Equity Partners, LP | 111,512 | 52,963 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net income per common unit - basic and diluted | $ | 0.49 | n/a | |||||||||||||||||
Partnership_Distributions_tabl
Partnership Distributions (tables) | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | ||||||||||||
Distributions Made to Members or Limited Partners [Abstract] | ' | |||||||||||
Cash Distributions Tables | ' | |||||||||||
The board of directors of WGP GP declared the following cash distributions to WGP unitholders for the periods presented: | ||||||||||||
thousands except per-unit amounts | Total Quarterly | Total Quarterly | Date of | |||||||||
Quarters Ended | Distribution | Cash Distribution | Distribution | |||||||||
per Unit | ||||||||||||
2012 | ||||||||||||
December 31 (pro-rated from IPO date) | $ | 0.03587 | $ | 7,852 | Feb-13 | |||||||
2013 | ||||||||||||
31-Mar | $ | 0.17875 | $ | 39,128 | May-13 | |||||||
30-Jun | $ | 0.1975 | $ | 43,232 | Aug-13 | |||||||
September 30 (1) | $ | 0.21375 | $ | 46,789 | Nov-13 | |||||||
-1 | On October 16, 2013, the board of directors of WGP GP declared a cash distribution to WGP unitholders of $0.21375 per unit, or $46.8 million in aggregate, including incentive distributions. The cash distribution is payable on November 21, 2013, to WGP unitholders of record at the close of business on October 31, 2013. | |||||||||||
The board of directors of WES GP declared the following cash distributions to WES unitholders for the periods presented: | ||||||||||||
thousands except per-unit amounts | Total Quarterly | Total Quarterly | Date of | |||||||||
Quarters Ended | Distribution | Cash Distribution | Distribution | |||||||||
per Unit | ||||||||||||
2012 | ||||||||||||
31-Mar | $ | 0.46 | $ | 46,053 | May-12 | |||||||
30-Jun | $ | 0.48 | $ | 52,425 | August 2012 | |||||||
30-Sep | $ | 0.5 | $ | 56,346 | Nov-12 | |||||||
2013 | ||||||||||||
31-Mar | $ | 0.54 | $ | 70,143 | May 2013 | |||||||
30-Jun | $ | 0.56 | $ | 79,315 | Aug-13 | |||||||
September 30 (1) | $ | 0.58 | $ | 83,986 | Nov-13 | |||||||
-1 | On October 16, 2013, the board of directors of WES GP declared a cash distribution to WES unitholders of $0.58 per unit, or $84.0 million in aggregate, including incentive distributions. The cash distribution is payable on November 12, 2013, to WES unitholders of record at the close of business on October 31, 2013. |
Equity_and_Partners_Capital_ta
Equity and Partners' Capital (tables) | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||
Partners' Capital Notes [Abstract] | ' | |||||||||||||||||
Equity Offerings Table | ' | |||||||||||||||||
WES completed the following public offerings of its common units during 2012 and 2013: | ||||||||||||||||||
thousands except unit | WES Common | WES GP Units | Price Per | Underwriting | Net | |||||||||||||
and per-unit amounts | Units Issued (1) | Issued (2) | Unit | Discount and | Proceeds to WES | |||||||||||||
Other Offering | ||||||||||||||||||
Expenses | ||||||||||||||||||
June 2012 equity offering | 5,000,000 | 102,041 | $ | 43.88 | $ | 7,468 | $ | 216,409 | ||||||||||
May 2013 equity offering | 7,015,000 | 143,163 | 61.18 | 13,203 | 424,733 | |||||||||||||
(1) | Includes the issuance of 915,000 WES common units pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option granted in connection with the May 2013 equity offering. | |||||||||||||||||
(2) | Represents general partner units of WES issued to WES GP in exchange for WES GP’s proportionate capital contribution to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest. | |||||||||||||||||
Limited Partner and General Partner Units Table | ' | |||||||||||||||||
The following table summarizes WES common and general partner units issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2013: | ||||||||||||||||||
WES Common | WES General | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Units | Partner Units | |||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2012 | 104,660,553 | 2,135,930 | 106,796,483 | |||||||||||||||
Non-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition | 449,129 | 9,166 | 458,295 | |||||||||||||||
Long-Term Incentive Plan awards | 6,879 | 140 | 7,019 | |||||||||||||||
May 2013 equity offering | 7,015,000 | 143,163 | 7,158,163 | |||||||||||||||
Continuous Offering Program | 43,350 | 174 | 43,524 | |||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2013 | 112,174,911 | 2,288,573 | 114,463,484 | |||||||||||||||
Transactions_With_Affiliates_t
Transactions With Affiliates (tables) | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Related Party Fees and Other Arrangements, Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Limited Partnership (LP) [Abstract] | ' | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commodity Price Swap Agreements Table | ' | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Below is a summary of the fixed price ranges on WES’s outstanding commodity price swap agreements as of September 30, 2013: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
per barrel except natural gas | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Ethane | $ | 18.32 | − | 30.1 | $ | 18.36 | − | 30.53 | $ | 18.41 | − | 23.41 | $ | 23.11 | ||||||||||||
Propane | $ | 45.9 | − | 55.84 | $ | 46.47 | − | 53.78 | $ | 47.08 | − | 52.99 | $ | 52.9 | ||||||||||||
Isobutane | $ | 60.44 | − | 77.66 | $ | 61.24 | − | 75.13 | $ | 62.09 | − | 74.02 | $ | 73.89 | ||||||||||||
Normal butane | $ | 53.2 | − | 68.24 | $ | 53.89 | − | 66.01 | $ | 54.62 | − | 65.04 | $ | 64.93 | ||||||||||||
Natural gasoline | $ | 70.89 | − | 92.23 | $ | 71.85 | − | 83.04 | $ | 72.88 | − | 81.82 | $ | 81.68 | ||||||||||||
Condensate | $ | 74.04 | − | 85.84 | $ | 75.22 | − | 83.04 | $ | 76.47 | − | 81.82 | $ | 81.68 | ||||||||||||
Natural gas (per MMbtu) | $ | 3.75 | − | 6.09 | $ | 4.45 | − | 6.2 | $ | 4.66 | − | 5.96 | $ | 4.87 | ||||||||||||
Gains (Losses) on Commodity Price Swap Agreements Table | ' | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following table summarizes realized gains and losses on commodity price swap agreements: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | 2013 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Gains (losses) on commodity price swap agreements related to sales: (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas sales | $ | 6,923 | $ | 9,132 | $ | 14,707 | $ | 30,728 | ||||||||||||||||||
Natural gas liquids sales | 27,541 | 25,986 | 83,049 | 46,020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 34,464 | 35,118 | 97,756 | 76,748 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Losses on commodity price swap agreements related to purchases (2) | (23,902 | ) | (25,803 | ) | (66,613 | ) | (70,342 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
Net gains (losses) on commodity price swap agreements | $ | 10,562 | $ | 9,315 | $ | 31,143 | $ | 6,406 | ||||||||||||||||||
(1) | Reported in affiliate natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales in the consolidated statements of income in the period in which the related sale is recorded. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(2) | Reported in cost of product in the consolidated statements of income in the period in which the related purchase is recorded. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equipment Purchase and Sale | ' | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following table summarizes WES’s purchases from and sales to Anadarko of pipe and equipment: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2013 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | Purchases | Sales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Consideration (1) | $ | 6,167 | $ | 18,946 | $ | 82 | $ | 760 | ||||||||||||||||||
Net carrying value | 2,039 | 6,765 | 34 | 392 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Partners’ capital adjustment | $ | 4,128 | $ | 12,181 | $ | 48 | $ | 368 | ||||||||||||||||||
-1 | Includes a payable of $1.8 million for pipe and equipment purchased in September 2013. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Summary of Affiliate Transactions Table | ' | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following table summarizes affiliate transactions, which include revenue from affiliates, reimbursement of operating expenses and purchases of natural gas: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | 2013 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues (1) | $ | 217,624 | $ | 180,605 | $ | 603,214 | $ | 519,460 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cost of product (1) | 33,753 | 42,839 | 97,801 | 115,603 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Operation and maintenance (2) | 13,469 | 12,638 | 41,021 | 38,040 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative (3) | 6,090 | 14,227 | 17,981 | 30,811 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses | 53,312 | 69,704 | 156,803 | 184,454 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest income, net (4) | 4,225 | 4,225 | 12,675 | 12,675 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense (5) | — | 81 | — | 2,684 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to WGP unitholders (6) | 39,329 | — | 82,068 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to WES unitholders (7) | 252 | — | 494 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Contributions from Anadarko as a Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner (8) | — | 2,148 | — | 12,588 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributions to Anadarko as a Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner (8) | — | 1,464 | — | 6,528 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | Represents amounts 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 WES assets, as well as expenses incurred by Anadarko on a historical basis related to WES assets prior to the acquisition of such assets by WES. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) | Represents general and administrative expense incurred on and subsequent to the date of WES’s acquisition of WES assets, as well as a management services fee for reimbursement of expenses incurred by Anadarko for periods prior to the acquisition of WES assets by WES. These amounts include equity-based compensation expense allocated to WES by Anadarko (see Equity incentive plan and Anadarko incentive plans within this Note 5) and amounts charged by Anadarko under the WGP omnibus agreement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(4) | Represents interest income recognized on the note receivable from Anadarko. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(5) | For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, includes interest expense recognized on the WES note payable to Anadarko (see Note 8) and interest imputed on the reimbursement payable to Anadarko for certain expenditures Anadarko incurred in 2011 related to the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants. WES repaid the WES note payable to Anadarko in June 2012, and repaid the reimbursement payable to Anadarko related to the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants in the fourth quarter of 2012. See Note receivable from and amounts payable to Anadarko within this Note 5. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(6) | Represents distributions paid under WGP’s partnership agreement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(7) | Represents distributions paid under WES’s partnership agreement (see Holdings of WES equity in Note 4). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
(8) | As described in Note 2, WES acquired Anadarko’s then remaining 24% membership interest in Chipeta on August 1, 2012, and accounted for the acquisition on a prospective basis. As such, contributions from noncontrolling interest owners and distributions to noncontrolling interest owners subsequent to the acquisition date no longer reflect contributions from or distributions to Anadarko. |
Property_Plant_and_Equipment_t
Property, Plant and Equipment (table) | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | |||||||||||
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] | ' | ||||||||||
Property, Plant and Equipment Table | ' | ||||||||||
A summary of the historical cost of property, plant and equipment is as follows: | |||||||||||
thousands | Estimated Useful Life | 30-Sep-13 | December 31, 2012 | ||||||||
Land | n/a | $ | 2,584 | $ | 501 | ||||||
Gathering systems | 3 to 47 years | 3,610,879 | 2,911,572 | ||||||||
Pipelines and equipment | 15 to 45 years | 119,278 | 91,126 | ||||||||
Assets under construction | n/a | 318,107 | 422,002 | ||||||||
Other | 3 to 25 years | 10,541 | 7,191 | ||||||||
Total property, plant and equipment | 4,061,389 | 3,432,392 | |||||||||
Accumulated depreciation | 817,489 | 714,436 | |||||||||
Net property, plant and equipment | $ | 3,243,900 | $ | 2,717,956 | |||||||
Components_of_Working_Capital_
Components of Working Capital (tables) | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | |||||||||
Components Of Working Capital [Abstract] | ' | ||||||||
Other Current Assets Table | ' | ||||||||
A summary of other current assets is as follows: | |||||||||
thousands | September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2013 | 2012 | ||||||||
Natural gas liquids inventory | $ | 2,438 | $ | 1,678 | |||||
Natural gas imbalance receivables | 2,729 | 1,663 | |||||||
Prepaid insurance | 2,083 | 1,897 | |||||||
Other | 1,662 | 1,760 | |||||||
Total other current assets | $ | 8,912 | $ | 6,998 | |||||
Accrued Liabilities Table | ' | ||||||||
A summary of accrued liabilities is as follows: | |||||||||
thousands | September 30, | December 31, | |||||||
2013 | 2012 | ||||||||
Accrued capital expenditures | $ | 100,876 | $ | 112,311 | |||||
Accrued plant purchases | 20,738 | 16,350 | |||||||
Accrued interest expense | 16,620 | 15,868 | |||||||
Short-term asset retirement obligations | 1,187 | 1,711 | |||||||
Short-term remediation and reclamation obligations | 609 | 799 | |||||||
Other | 293 | 1,561 | |||||||
Total accrued liabilities | $ | 140,323 | $ | 148,600 | |||||
Debt_and_Interest_Expense_tabl
Debt and Interest Expense (tables) | 9 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Debt Instruments [Abstract] | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Debt Outstanding and Debt Activity Tables | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following table presents outstanding debt as of September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
30-Sep-13 | 31-Dec-12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | Principal | Carrying | Fair | Principal | Carrying | Fair | |||||||||||||||||||
Value | Value (1) | Value | Value (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
4.000% Senior Notes due 2022 | $ | 670,000 | $ | 673,363 | $ | 651,580 | $ | 670,000 | $ | 673,617 | $ | 669,928 | |||||||||||||
5.375% Senior Notes due 2021 | 500,000 | 495,042 | 531,210 | 500,000 | 494,661 | 499,946 | |||||||||||||||||||
WES revolving credit facility | 100,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
2.600% Senior Notes due 2018 | 250,000 | 249,705 | 249,134 | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Total debt outstanding | $ | 1,520,000 | $ | 1,518,110 | $ | 1,531,924 | $ | 1,170,000 | $ | 1,168,278 | $ | 1,169,874 | |||||||||||||
(1) | Fair value is measured using Level 2 inputs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Debt activity. The following table presents the debt activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2013: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | Carrying Value | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2012 | $ | 1,168,278 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
WES revolving credit facility borrowings | 595,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Repayments of WES revolving credit facility | (495,000 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of 2.600% Senior Notes due 2018 | 250,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | (168 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of September 30, 2013 | $ | 1,518,110 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest Expense Table | ' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The following table summarizes the amounts included in interest expense: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
thousands | 2013 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Third parties | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense on long-term debt | $ | 14,994 | $ | 11,919 | $ | 43,783 | $ | 28,036 | |||||||||||||||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs and commitment fees (1) | 1,135 | 1,201 | 3,252 | 3,225 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Capitalized interest | (3,111 | ) | (2,224 | ) | (9,552 | ) | (3,827 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Total interest expense – third parties | 13,018 | 10,896 | 37,483 | 27,434 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Affiliates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense on WES note payable to Anadarko (2) | — | — | — | 2,440 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense on affiliate balances (3) | — | 81 | — | 244 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total interest expense – affiliates | — | 81 | — | 2,684 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense | $ | 13,018 | $ | 10,977 | $ | 37,483 | $ | 30,118 | |||||||||||||||||
(1) | For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, includes $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of amortization of (i) the original issue discount for the June 2012 offering of the 2022 Notes, partially offset by the original issue premium for the October 2012 offering of the 2022 Notes, (ii) original issue discount for the 2021 Notes and 2018 Notes and (iii) underwriters’ fees. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, includes $0.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of amortization of the original issue discount and underwriters’ fees for the 2022 Notes issued in June 2012 and the 2021 Notes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(2) | In June 2012, the WES note payable to Anadarko was repaid in full. See WES note payable to Anadarko within this Note 8. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(3) | Imputed interest expense on the reimbursement payable to Anadarko for certain expenditures Anadarko incurred in 2011 related to the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants. In the fourth quarter of 2012, WES repaid the reimbursement payable to Anadarko associated with the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants. |
Description_of_Business_and_Ba2
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation - Asset Table (details) (Western Gas Partners [Member]) | Sep. 30, 2013 |
Gathering System [Member] | Operated [Member] | ' |
Assets [Line Items] | ' |
Assets, number of units | 13 |
Gathering System [Member] | Operated Interest [Member] | ' |
Assets [Line Items] | ' |
Assets, number of units | 1 |
Gathering System [Member] | Non Operated Interest [Member] | ' |
Assets [Line Items] | ' |
Assets, number of units | 5 |
Natural Gas Treating Facilities [Member] | Operated [Member] | ' |
Assets [Line Items] | ' |
Assets, number of units | 8 |
Natural Gas Processing Plant [Member] | Operated [Member] | ' |
Assets [Line Items] | ' |
Assets, number of units | 8 |
Natural Gas Processing Plant [Member] | Operated Interest [Member] | ' |
Assets [Line Items] | ' |
Assets, number of units | 3 |
Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline [Member] | Operated [Member] | ' |
Assets [Line Items] | ' |
Assets, number of units | 3 |
Natural Gas Pipelines [Member] | Operated [Member] | ' |
Assets [Line Items] | ' |
Assets, number of units | 3 |
Description_of_Business_and_Ba3
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (details) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | 31-May-13 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jul. 31, 2009 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Aug. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 |
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | IPO [Member] | Statement Of Cash Flow [Member] | Fort Union [Member] | Rendezvous [Member] | Incentive Distribution Rights [Member] | Non-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member] | Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member] | Newcastle [Member] | Chipeta Processing Limited Liability Company [Member] | Chipeta Processing Limited Liability Company [Member] | Chipeta Processing Limited Liability Company [Member] | Anadarko Marcellus Midstream [Member] | General Partner [Member] | ||
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | ||||||||
Equity method investment ownership | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 14.81% | 22.00% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Ownership interest | ' | ' | 100.00% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 100.00% | 33.75% | 33.75% | 50.00% | 51.00% | ' | ' | ' | ' |
General partner's interest | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2.00% |
Marginal percentage interest in distributions | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 48.00% |
Common units issued | 218,895,515 | 218,895,515 | ' | ' | ' | 19,758,150 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Price per unit | ' | ' | ' | $61.18 | $43.88 | $22 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Proceeds from issuance initial public offering | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $412 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Payment for purchase of private placement | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 409.4 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Correction of error | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $35.70 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Units issued | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 458,295 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 449,129 | ' |
Ownership interest by noncontrolling owners | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 25.00% | 24.00% | ' | ' |
Acquisitions_Acquisitions_Tabl
Acquisitions - Acquisitions Table (details) (USD $) | 9 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Jan. 31, 2012 | Jan. 31, 2012 | Aug. 31, 2012 | Jan. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jan. 31, 2012 | Aug. 31, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2013 | Jan. 31, 2012 | Aug. 31, 2012 | ||||||||||||||
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Mountain Gas Resources [Member] | Mountain Gas Resources [Member] | Chipeta Processing Limited Liability Company [Member] | Chipeta Processing Limited Liability Company [Member] | Chipeta Processing Limited Liability Company [Member] | Non-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member] | Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member] | Mont Belvieu JV [Member] | Mont Belvieu JV [Member] | Overland Trail Transmission Limited Liability Company [Member] | Common Units [Member] | Common Units [Member] | Common Units [Member] | General Partner [Member] | General Partner [Member] | |||||||||||||||||
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Rendezvous [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Mountain Gas Resources [Member] | Chipeta Processing Limited Liability Company [Member] | Non-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member] | Mountain Gas Resources [Member] | Chipeta Processing Limited Liability Company [Member] | |||||||||||||||||||
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Fractionator [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Business Acquisition [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||||||||||
Percentage acquired | ' | ' | 100.00% | ' | 100.00% | [1] | ' | 24.00% | [2] | ' | 75.00% | 33.75% | [3] | 33.75% | [4] | ' | ' | 100.00% | [5] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||
Equity method investment ownership | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 22.00% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 25.00% | [6] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||||||
Borrowings | $842,566 | $885,291 | [7] | ' | ' | $299,000 | [1] | ' | ' | ' | ' | $250,000 | [3] | $133,500 | [4] | ' | ' | $27,500 | [5] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||
Cash on hand | ' | ' | ' | ' | 159,587 | [1] | ' | ' | 128,250 | [2] | ' | 215,500 | [3] | ' | 78,129 | [6] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||||||
Units issued | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 632,783 | [1] | 151,235 | [2] | 449,129 | [3] | 12,914 | [1] | 3,000 | [2] | |||||||||
Table Text Block Supplement [Abstract] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||||||||||
Ownership interest by noncontrolling owners | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 25.00% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||||||||||
GP units issued | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 9,166 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common and general partner units, net of offering expenses | ' | ' | $418,570 | $211,965 | [7] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $500 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||||||
General partner's interest | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2.00% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||||||||||
Assets, number of units | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||||||||||
[1] | The assets acquired from Anadarko consist of (i) the Red Desert complex, which is located in the greater Green River Basin in southwestern Wyoming, and includes the Patrick Draw processing plant, the Red Desert processing plant, gathering lines, and related facilities, (ii) a 22% interest in Rendezvous, which owns a gathering system serving the Jonah and Pinedale Anticline fields in southwestern Wyoming, and (iii) certain additional midstream assets and equipment. These assets are collectively referred to as the “MGR assets†and the acquisition as the “MGR acquisition.†| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[2] | WES acquired Anadarko’s then remaining 24% membership interest in Chipeta (as described in Note 1). WES received distributions related to the additional interest beginning July 1, 2012. This transaction brought WES’s total membership interest in Chipeta to 75%. The remaining 25% membership interest in Chipeta held by a third-party member is reflected as noncontrolling interests in the consolidated financial statements for all periods presented. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[3] | WES acquired Anadarko’s 33.75% interest (non-operated) in the Liberty and Rome gas gathering systems, serving production from the Marcellus shale in north-central Pennsylvania. The interest acquired is referred to as the “Non-Operated Marcellus Interest†and the acquisition as the “Non-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition.†In connection with the issuance of WES common units, WES GP purchased 9,166 general partner units for consideration of $0.5 million in order to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest in WES. See Non-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition below for further information. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[4] | The interest acquired from a third party consisted of a 33.75% interest in each of the Larry’s Creek, Seely and Warrensville gas gathering systems, which are operated by Anadarko and serve production from the Marcellus shale in north-central Pennsylvania. The interest acquired is referred to as the “Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest†and the acquisition as the “Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition.†See Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest acquisition below for further information, including the final allocation of the purchase price as of September 30, 2013. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[5] | WES acquired Overland Trail Transmission, LLC (“OTTCOâ€), a Delaware limited liability company, from a third party. OTTCO owns and operates an intrastate pipeline which connects WES’s Red Desert and Granger complexes in southwestern Wyoming. The assets acquired are referred to as the “OTTCO pipeline†and the acquisition as the “OTTCO acquisition.†| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[6] | The acquisition from a third party consisted of a 25% interest in Enterprise EF78 LLC, an entity formed to design, construct, and own two fractionators located in Mont Belvieu, Texas. The interest acquired is accounted for under the equity method of accounting and is referred to as the “Mont Belvieu JV†and the acquisition as the “Mont Belvieu JV acquisition.†See Mont Belvieu JV acquisition below for further information. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[7] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. |
Acquisitions_Impact_to_Histori
Acquisitions - Impact to Historical Consolidated Statement of Income Table (details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | ||
Revenues | $278,001 | $234,734 | [1] | $762,874 | $679,720 | [1] |
Net income | 81,117 | 40,916 | [1] | 193,926 | 126,293 | [1] |
WGP Historical [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||
Revenues | ' | 219,020 | ' | 636,603 | ||
Net income | ' | 33,854 | ' | 106,711 | ||
Non-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||
Revenues | ' | 15,714 | ' | 43,117 | ||
Net income | ' | $7,062 | ' | $19,582 | ||
[1] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. |
Acquisitions_Purchase_Price_Al
Acquisitions - Purchase Price Allocation Table (details) (Western Gas Partners [Member], Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member], USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 |
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | |
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member] | ' |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] | ' |
Property, plant and equipment | $134,819 |
Asset retirement obligations | -174 |
Total purchase price | $134,645 |
Acquisitions_Pro_Forma_Condens
Acquisitions - Pro Forma Condensed Financial Information Table (details) (Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member], USD $) | 9 Months Ended | |
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 |
Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member] | ' | ' |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] | ' | ' |
Revenues | $764,128 | $682,820 |
Net income | 194,074 | 124,221 |
Net income attributable to Western Gas Equity Partners, LP | $111,512 | $52,963 |
Net income per common unit - basic and diluted | $0.49 | ' |
Acquisitions_Additional_Inform
Acquisitions - Additional Information (details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | ||
Business Acquisition [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||
Revenues | $278,001 | $234,734 | [1] | $762,874 | $679,720 | [1] |
Operating expenses | 188,499 | 173,422 | [1] | 541,395 | 491,907 | [1] |
Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||
Business Acquisition [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||
Revenues | ' | ' | 8,100 | ' | ||
Operating expenses | ' | ' | 500 | ' | ||
Purchase price adjustment | 134,645 | ' | 134,645 | ' | ||
Anadarko-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member] | Purchase Price Allocation Adjustments [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||
Business Acquisition [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||
Purchase price adjustment | $1,100 | ' | $1,100 | ' | ||
[1] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. |
Partnership_Distributions_Cash
Partnership Distributions - Cash Distributions Table (details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | |||||||||||
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2012 | ||
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | |||||||
Dividends Payable [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||
Total quarterly distribution per unit | $0.21 | [1] | $0.20 | $0.18 | $0.04 | $0.58 | [2] | $0.56 | $0.54 | $0.50 | $0.48 | $0.46 |
Total quarterly cash distribution | $46,789 | [1] | $43,232 | $39,128 | $7,852 | $83,986 | [2] | $79,315 | $70,143 | $56,346 | $52,425 | $46,053 |
[1] | On October 16, 2013, the board of directors of WGP GP declared a cash distribution to WGP unitholders of $0.21375 per unit, or $46.8 million in aggregate. The cash distribution is payable on November 21, 2013, to WGP unitholders of record at the close of business on October 31, 2013. | |||||||||||
[2] | On October 16, 2013, the board of directors of WES GP declared a cash distribution to WES unitholders of $0.58 per unit, or $84.0 million in aggregate, including incentive distributions. The cash distribution is payable on November 12, 2013, to WES unitholders of record at the close of business on October 31, 2013. |
Partnership_Distributions_Addi
Partnership Distributions - Additional Information (details) | 9 Months Ended |
Sep. 30, 2013 | |
Dividends Payable [Line Items] | ' |
Partnership agreement day requirement of distribution of available cash | '55 days |
Western Gas Partners [Member] | ' |
Dividends Payable [Line Items] | ' |
Partnership agreement day requirement of distribution of available cash | '45 days |
Equity_and_Partners_Capital_Eq
Equity and Partners' Capital - Equity Offerings Table (details) (Western Gas Partners [Member], USD $) | 1 Months Ended | |||
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified | 31-May-13 | Jun. 30, 2012 | ||
Capital Unit [Line Items] | ' | ' | ||
Common units Issued | 7,015,000 | [1] | 5,000,000 | [1] |
Price per unit | $61.18 | $43.88 | ||
Underwriting discount and other offering expenses | $13,203 | $7,468 | ||
Net proceeds to WES | $424,733 | $216,409 | ||
Common Units [Member] | Option on Securities [Member] | ' | ' | ||
Capital Unit [Line Items] | ' | ' | ||
Common units Issued | 915,000 | ' | ||
General Partner [Member] | ' | ' | ||
Capital Unit [Line Items] | ' | ' | ||
General partner units issued | 143,163 | [2] | 102,041 | [2] |
[1] | Includes the issuance of 915,000 WES common units pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option granted in connection with the May 2013 equity offering. | |||
[2] | Represents general partner units of WES issued to WES GP in exchange for WES GP’s proportionate capital contribution to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest. |
Equity_and_Partners_Capital_Li
Equity and Partners' Capital - Limited Partner and General Partner Units (details) (Western Gas Partners [Member]) | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | |||
31-May-13 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | |||
Capital Unit [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Balance | ' | ' | 106,796,483 | ||
Long-term incentive plan awards | ' | ' | 7,019 | ||
Common units issued | 7,015,000 | [1] | 5,000,000 | [1] | ' |
Balance | ' | ' | 114,463,484 | ||
Non-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Capital Unit [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Acquisition | ' | ' | 458,295 | ||
May 2013 Equity Offering [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Capital Unit [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Offering | ' | ' | 7,158,163 | ||
Continuous Offering Program [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Capital Unit [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Offering | ' | ' | 43,524 | ||
Common Units [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Capital Unit [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Balance | ' | ' | 104,660,553 | ||
Long-term incentive plan awards | ' | ' | 6,879 | ||
Balance | ' | ' | 112,174,911 | ||
Common Units [Member] | Non-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Capital Unit [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Acquisition | ' | ' | 449,129 | ||
Common Units [Member] | May 2013 Equity Offering [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Capital Unit [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Common units issued | ' | ' | 7,015,000 | ||
Common Units [Member] | Continuous Offering Program [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Capital Unit [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Common units issued | ' | ' | 43,350 | ||
General Partner [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Capital Unit [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Balance | ' | ' | 2,135,930 | ||
Long-term incentive plan awards | ' | ' | 140 | ||
Offering | 143,163 | [2] | 102,041 | [2] | ' |
Balance | ' | ' | 2,288,573 | ||
General Partner [Member] | Non-Operated Marcellus Interest [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Capital Unit [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Acquisition | ' | ' | 9,166 | ||
General Partner [Member] | May 2013 Equity Offering [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Capital Unit [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Offering | ' | ' | 143,163 | ||
General Partner [Member] | Continuous Offering Program [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Capital Unit [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ||
Offering | ' | ' | 174 | ||
[1] | Includes the issuance of 915,000 WES common units pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option granted in connection with the May 2013 equity offering. | ||||
[2] | Represents general partner units of WES issued to WES GP in exchange for WES GP’s proportionate capital contribution to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest. |
Equity_and_Partners_Capital_Ad
Equity and Partners' Capital - Additional Information (details) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Aug. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 |
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Common Units [Member] | Common Units [Member] | Common Units [Member] | Common Units [Member] | Common Units [Member] | Incentive Distribution Rights [Member] | Continuous Offering Program [Member] | Continuous Offering Program [Member] | Continuous Offering Program [Member] | |||
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Public [Member] | Public [Member] | Anadarko [Member] | Anadarko Marcellus Midstream [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Initiated Trade [Member] | ||||
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | ||||||||||
Schedule of Investments [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Maximum aggregate principal of common stock | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $125,000,000 | ' |
Common units issued | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 218,750 |
Average price per unit | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $58.22 | ' | ' |
Offering expenses | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 100,000 | ' | ' |
Gross proceeds | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $2,700,000 | ' | $12,700,000 |
Units owned | 218,895,515 | 218,895,515 | ' | 49,296,205 | 19,758,150 | 62,429,577 | 199,137,365 | 449,129 | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Ownership interest | ' | ' | ' | 43.10% | 9.00% | 54.50% | 91.00% | 0.40% | ' | ' | ' | ' |
General partner units owned | ' | ' | 2,288,573 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
General partner's interest | ' | ' | 2.00% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 100.00% | ' | ' | ' |
Transactions_With_Affiliates_C
Transactions With Affiliates - Commodity Price Per Unit Table (details) (Western Gas Partners [Member]) | Sep. 30, 2013 |
Ethane [Member] | Year 2016 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 23.11 |
Ethane [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2013 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 18.32 |
Ethane [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2014 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 18.36 |
Ethane [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2015 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 18.41 |
Ethane [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2013 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 30.1 |
Ethane [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2014 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 30.53 |
Ethane [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2015 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 23.41 |
Propane [Member] | Year 2016 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 52.9 |
Propane [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2013 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 45.9 |
Propane [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2014 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 46.47 |
Propane [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2015 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 47.08 |
Propane [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2013 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 55.84 |
Propane [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2014 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 53.78 |
Propane [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2015 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 52.99 |
Isobutane [Member] | Year 2016 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 73.89 |
Isobutane [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2013 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 60.44 |
Isobutane [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2014 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 61.24 |
Isobutane [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2015 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 62.09 |
Isobutane [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2013 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 77.66 |
Isobutane [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2014 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 75.13 |
Isobutane [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2015 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 74.02 |
Normal Butane [Member] | Year 2016 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 64.93 |
Normal Butane [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2013 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 53.2 |
Normal Butane [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2014 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 53.89 |
Normal Butane [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2015 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 54.62 |
Normal Butane [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2013 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 68.24 |
Normal Butane [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2014 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 66.01 |
Normal Butane [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2015 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 65.04 |
Natural Gasoline [Member] | Year 2016 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 81.68 |
Natural Gasoline [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2013 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 70.89 |
Natural Gasoline [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2014 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 71.85 |
Natural Gasoline [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2015 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 72.88 |
Natural Gasoline [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2013 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 92.23 |
Natural Gasoline [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2014 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 83.04 |
Natural Gasoline [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2015 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 81.82 |
Condensate [Member] | Year 2016 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 81.68 |
Condensate [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2013 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 74.04 |
Condensate [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2014 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 75.22 |
Condensate [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2015 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 76.47 |
Condensate [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2013 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 85.84 |
Condensate [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2014 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 83.04 |
Condensate [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2015 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 81.82 |
Natural gas (per MMbtu) [Member] | Year 2016 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 4.87 |
Natural gas (per MMbtu) [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2013 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 3.75 |
Natural gas (per MMbtu) [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2014 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 4.45 |
Natural gas (per MMbtu) [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Year 2015 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 4.66 |
Natural gas (per MMbtu) [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2013 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 6.09 |
Natural gas (per MMbtu) [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2014 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 6.2 |
Natural gas (per MMbtu) [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Year 2015 [Member] | ' |
Commodity Price Risk Swap [Line Items] | ' |
Commodity Swap Fixed Price | 5.96 |
Transactions_With_Affiliates_G
Transactions With Affiliates - Gains Losses Commodity Price Swap Table (details) (Western Gas Partners [Member], USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | ||||
Gains (losses) on commodity price swap | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Net gains (losses) on commodity price swap agreements | $10,562 | $9,315 | $31,143 | $6,406 | ||||
Sales [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Gains (losses) on commodity price swap | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Net gains (losses) on commodity price swap agreements | 34,464 | [1] | 35,118 | [1] | 97,756 | [1] | 76,748 | [1] |
Cost of Sales [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Gains (losses) on commodity price swap | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Net gains (losses) on commodity price swap agreements | -23,902 | [2] | -25,803 | [2] | -66,613 | [2] | -70,342 | [2] |
Natural Gas, Per Thousand Cubic Feet [Member] | Sales [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Gains (losses) on commodity price swap | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Net gains (losses) on commodity price swap agreements | 6,923 | [1] | 9,132 | [1] | 14,707 | [1] | 30,728 | [1] |
Natural Gas Liquids [Member] | Sales [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Gains (losses) on commodity price swap | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Net gains (losses) on commodity price swap agreements | $27,541 | [1] | $25,986 | [1] | $83,049 | [1] | $46,020 | [1] |
[1] | Reported in affiliate natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales in the consolidated statements of income in the period in which the related sale is recorded. | |||||||
[2] | Reported in cost of product in the consolidated statements of income in the period in which the related purchase is recorded. |
Transactions_With_Affiliates_E
Transactions With Affiliates - Equipment Purchase and Sale Table (details) (USD $) | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | ||||||
Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | |||||||||
Purchases [Member] | Purchases [Member] | Sales [Member] | Sales [Member] | |||||||||||
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | |||||||||||
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||
Consideration given for equipment | ' | ' | ' | ' | $6,167 | [1] | $18,946 | [1] | ' | ' | ||||
Consideration received for equipment | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 82 | [1] | 760 | [1] | ||||
Net carrying value | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2,039 | 6,765 | 34 | 392 | ||||||
Partners' capital adjustment | 265 | ' | ' | ' | 4,128 | 12,181 | 48 | 368 | ||||||
Table Text Block Supplement [Abstract] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||
Accounts payable | $19,131 | [2] | $25,154 | [2],[3] | $2,800 | $2,500 | $1,800 | ' | ' | ' | ||||
[1] | Includes a payable of $1.8 million for pipe and equipment purchased in September 2013. | |||||||||||||
[2] | Accounts and natural gas imbalance payables includes amounts payable to affiliates of $2.8 million and $2.5 million as of September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively. | |||||||||||||
[3] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. |
Transactions_With_Affiliates_S
Transactions With Affiliates - Summary Table (details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Mar. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Aug. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | |||||||||||||||||
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Chipeta Processing Limited Liability Company [Member] | Chipeta Processing Limited Liability Company [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | Affiliated Entity [Member] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Equity Partners [Member] | Western Gas Equity Partners [Member] | Western Gas Equity Partners [Member] | Western Gas Equity Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||||||||||
Revenues | $278,001 | ' | ' | ' | $234,734 | [1] | $762,874 | $679,720 | [1] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $217,624 | [2] | $180,605 | [1],[2] | $603,214 | [2] | $519,460 | [1],[2] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||||
Cost of product | 93,516 | [3] | ' | ' | ' | 89,107 | [1],[3] | 270,059 | [3] | 254,719 | [1],[3] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 33,753 | [2] | 42,839 | [2] | 97,801 | [2] | 115,603 | [2] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||
Operation and maintenance | 42,757 | [3] | ' | ' | ' | 35,493 | [1],[3] | 121,165 | [3] | 103,304 | [1],[3] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 13,469 | [4] | 12,638 | [4] | 41,021 | [4] | 38,040 | [4] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||
General and administrative | 7,962 | [3] | ' | ' | ' | 15,039 | [1],[3] | 25,100 | [3] | 35,623 | [1],[3] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 6,090 | [5] | 14,227 | [5] | 17,981 | [5] | 30,811 | [5] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||
Operating expenses | 188,499 | ' | ' | ' | 173,422 | [1] | 541,395 | 491,907 | [1] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 53,312 | 69,704 | 156,803 | 184,454 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||||||||
Interest income, net | 4,225 | [6] | ' | ' | ' | 4,225 | [6] | 12,675 | [6] | 12,675 | [6] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||||||
Interest expense | 13,018 | [7] | ' | ' | ' | 10,977 | [1],[7] | 37,483 | [7] | 30,118 | [1],[7] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 0 | [8] | 81 | [8] | 0 | [8] | 2,684 | [8] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||
Distributions to unitholders | 46,789 | [9] | 43,232 | 39,128 | 7,852 | ' | ' | ' | 83,986 | [10] | 79,315 | 70,143 | 56,346 | 52,425 | 46,053 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 39,329 | [11] | 0 | [11] | 82,068 | [11] | 0 | [11] | 252 | [12] | 0 | [12] | 494 | [12] | 0 | [12] | |||||||
Contributions from Anadarko as a Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2,247 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 0 | [13] | 2,148 | [13] | 0 | [13] | 12,588 | [13] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||||||
Distributions to Anadarko as a Chipeta noncontrolling interest owner | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $94,117 | ' | ' | $0 | [13] | $1,464 | [13] | $0 | [13] | $6,528 | [13] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||||||
Table Text Block Supplement [Abstract] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||||||||||
Ownership interest by noncontrolling owners | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 25.00% | 24.00% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |||||||||||||||||
[1] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[2] | Represents amounts recognized under gathering, treating or processing agreements, and purchase and sale agreements. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[3] | Cost of product includes product purchases from Anadarko (as defined in Note 1) of $33.8 million and $97.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $42.8 million and $115.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. Operation and maintenance includes charges from Anadarko of $13.5 million and $41.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $12.6 million and $38.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. General and administrative includes charges from Anadarko of $6.1 million and $18.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $14.2 million and $30.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. See Note 5. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[4] | Represents expenses incurred on and subsequent to the date of the acquisition of WES assets, as well as expenses incurred by Anadarko on a historical basis related to WES assets prior to the acquisition of such assets by WES. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[5] | Represents general and administrative expense incurred on and subsequent to the date of WES’s acquisition of WES assets, as well as a management services fee for reimbursement of expenses incurred by Anadarko for periods prior to the acquisition of WES assets by WES. These amounts include equity-based compensation expense allocated to WES by Anadarko (see Equity incentive plan and Anadarko incentive plans within this Note 5) and amounts charged by Anadarko under the WGP omnibus agreement. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[6] | Represents interest income recognized on the note receivable from Anadarko. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[7] | Includes affiliate (as defined in Note 1) interest expense of zero for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, and $0.1 million and $2.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. See Note 8. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[8] | For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, includes interest expense recognized on the WES note payable to Anadarko (see Note 8) and interest imputed on the reimbursement payable to Anadarko for certain expenditures Anadarko incurred in 2011 related to the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants. WES repaid the WES note payable to Anadarko in June 2012, and repaid the reimbursement payable to Anadarko related to the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants in the fourth quarter of 2012. See Note receivable from and amounts payable to Anadarko within this Note 5. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[9] | On October 16, 2013, the board of directors of WGP GP declared a cash distribution to WGP unitholders of $0.21375 per unit, or $46.8 million in aggregate. The cash distribution is payable on November 21, 2013, to WGP unitholders of record at the close of business on October 31, 2013. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[10] | On October 16, 2013, the board of directors of WES GP declared a cash distribution to WES unitholders of $0.58 per unit, or $84.0 million in aggregate, including incentive distributions. The cash distribution is payable on November 12, 2013, to WES unitholders of record at the close of business on October 31, 2013. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[11] | Represents distributions paid under WGP’s partnership agreement. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[12] | Represents distributions paid under WES’s partnership agreement (see Holdings of WES equity in Note 4). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
[13] | As described in Note 2, WES acquired Anadarko’s then remaining 24% membership interest in Chipeta on August 1, 2012, and accounted for the acquisition on a prospective basis. As such, contributions from noncontrolling interest owners and distributions to noncontrolling interest owners subsequent to the acquisition date no longer reflect contributions from or distributions to Anadarko. |
Transactions_With_Affiliates_A
Transactions With Affiliates - Additional Information (details) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | 31-May-08 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2008 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | |
Note Receivable From Anadarko [Member] | Note Receivable From Anadarko [Member] | Note Receivable From Anadarko [Member] | Note Payable To Anadarko [Member] | Note Payable To Anadarko [Member] | Senior Notes 4 Percent Due 2022 [Member] | Gathering Transportation And Treating [Member] | Gathering Transportation And Treating [Member] | Gathering Transportation And Treating [Member] | Gathering Transportation And Treating [Member] | Processing [Member] | Processing [Member] | Processing [Member] | Processing [Member] | Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] | Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] | Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] | Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] | Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] | Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] | Anadarko Incentive Plans [Member] | Anadarko Incentive Plans [Member] | Anadarko Incentive Plans [Member] | Anadarko Incentive Plans [Member] | Incentive Plan [Member] | Incentive Plan [Member] | Incentive Plan [Member] | Independent Director [Member] | Independent Director [Member] | ||||
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Unit Appreciation Right [Member] | Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] | Long Term Incentive Plan [Member] | ||||||
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Related Party Transaction [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |
Note receivable, due date | ' | ' | ' | 14-May-38 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |
Note receivable - Anadarko | $260,000,000 | $260,000,000 | [1] | $260,000,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Debt instrument, maturity date | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2-Aug-13 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |
Fixed annual rate for note receivable bearing interest | ' | ' | 6.50% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |
The fair value of the note receivable | ' | ' | ' | 301,500,000 | 334,800,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |
Principal | 1,520,000,000 | 1,170,000,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | 175,000,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |
Fixed interest rate | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 4.00% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |
Affiliate throughput percent | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 56.00% | 63.00% | 58.00% | 64.00% | 58.00% | 61.00% | 56.00% | 59.00% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |
Phantom units vesting term | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | '3 years | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | '1 year | '1 year | |
Equity based compensation expense | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $100,000 | $200,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $400,000 | $300,000 | $800,000 | $800,000 | $2,200,000 | $2,400,000 | $8,600,000 | $13,900,000 | ' | ' | ' | |
UVR, UAR and DER Valuation | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $1,053 | ' | ' | |
[1] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. |
Recovered_Sheet1
Property, Plant and Equipment Table (details) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | |
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Land [Member] | Land [Member] | Gas Gathering and Processing Equipment [Member] | Gas Gathering and Processing Equipment [Member] | Gas Gathering and Processing Equipment [Member] | Gas Gathering and Processing Equipment [Member] | Pipelines And Equipment [Member] | Pipelines And Equipment [Member] | Pipelines And Equipment [Member] | Pipelines And Equipment [Member] | Asset under Construction [Member] | Asset under Construction [Member] | Other [Member] | Other [Member] | Other [Member] | Other [Member] | |||
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Maximum [Member] | ||||
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | ||||||||||||||
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |
Property, plant and equipment | $4,061,389 | $3,432,392 | [1] | $2,584 | $501 | $3,610,879 | $2,911,572 | ' | ' | $119,278 | $91,126 | ' | ' | $318,107 | $422,002 | $10,541 | $7,191 | ' | ' |
Accumulated depreciation | 817,489 | 714,436 | [1] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Net property, plant and equipment | $3,243,900 | $2,717,956 | [1] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Estimated useful life | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | '3 years | '47 years | ' | ' | '15 years | '45 years | ' | ' | ' | ' | '3 years | '25 years | |
[1] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. |
Property_Plant_and_Equipment_A
Property, Plant and Equipment - Additional Information (details) (Western Gas Partners [Member], USD $) | 9 Months Ended |
In Millions, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013 |
Western Gas Partners [Member] | ' |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] | ' |
Impairment | $1 |
Components_of_Working_Capital_1
Components of Working Capital - Other Current Assets Table (details) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | ||
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | ||||
Other Current Assets [Line Items] | ' | ' | ||
Natural gas liquids inventory | $2,438 | $1,678 | ||
Natural gas imbalance receivables | 2,729 | 1,663 | ||
Prepaid insurance | 2,083 | 1,897 | ||
Other | 1,662 | 1,760 | ||
Other current assets | $8,912 | [1] | $6,998 | [1],[2] |
[1] | Other current assets includes natural gas imbalance receivables from affiliates of $0.1 million and $0.4 million as of September 30, 2013, and December 31, 2012, respectively. | |||
[2] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. |
Components_of_Working_Capital_2
Components of Working Capital - Accrued Liabilities Table (details) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | ||
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | ||||
Accrued Liabilities [Line Items] | ' | ' | ||
Other accrued liabilities | $293 | $1,561 | ||
Accrued interest expense | 16,620 | 15,868 | ||
Short-term asset retirement obligations | 1,187 | 1,711 | ||
Short-term remediation and reclamation obligations | 609 | 799 | ||
Accrued liabilities | 140,323 | [1] | 148,600 | [1],[2] |
Accrued Capital Expenditures [Member] | ' | ' | ||
Accrued Liabilities [Line Items] | ' | ' | ||
Other accrued liabilities | 100,876 | 112,311 | ||
Accrued Plant Purchases [Member] | ' | ' | ||
Accrued Liabilities [Line Items] | ' | ' | ||
Other accrued liabilities | $20,738 | $16,350 | ||
[1] | Accrued liabilities include amounts payable to affiliates of $0.1 million as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. | |||
[2] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. |
Debt_and_Interest_Expense_Debt
Debt and Interest Expense - Debt Outstanding Table (details) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Oct. 31, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | 31-May-11 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Aug. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | ||||||||||
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Senior Notes 4 Percent Due 2022 [Member] | Senior Notes 4 Percent Due 2022 [Member] | Senior Notes 4 Percent Due 2022 [Member] | Senior Notes 4 Percent Due 2022 [Member] | Senior Notes 5 Point 375 Percent Due 2021 [Member] | Senior Notes 5 Point 375 Percent Due 2021 [Member] | Senior Notes 5 Point 375 Percent Due 2021 [Member] | Senior Notes 2 Point 6 Percent Due 2018 [Member] | Senior Notes 2 Point 6 Percent Due 2018 [Member] | Senior Notes 2 Point 6 Percent Due 2018 [Member] | ||||||||||||
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | |||||||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||||||||
Principal | $1,520,000 | $1,170,000 | $100,000 | $0 | $670,000 | $670,000 | $150,000 | $520,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $0 | ||||||||||
Carrying value | 1,518,110 | 1,168,278 | [1] | 100,000 | 0 | 673,363 | 673,617 | ' | ' | 495,042 | 494,661 | ' | 249,705 | ' | 0 | |||||||||
Fair value | $1,531,924 | [2] | $1,169,874 | [2] | $100,000 | [2] | $0 | [2] | $651,580 | [2] | $669,928 | [2] | ' | ' | $531,210 | [2] | $499,946 | [2] | ' | $249,134 | [2] | ' | $0 | [2] |
[1] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[2] | Fair value is measured using Level 2 inputs. |
Debt_and_Interest_Expense_Debt1
Debt and Interest Expense - Debt Activity Table (details) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | |
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Senior Notes 2 Point 6 Percent Due 2018 [Member] | |||
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | |||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |
Balance | $1,518,110 | $1,168,278 | [1] | ' | $0 | $0 |
Borrowings | ' | ' | ' | 595,000 | 250,000 | |
Repayments | ' | ' | ' | -495,000 | ' | |
Other | ' | ' | -168 | ' | ' | |
Balance | $1,518,110 | $1,168,278 | [1] | ' | $100,000 | $249,705 |
[1] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. |
Debt_and_Interest_Expense_Inte
Debt and Interest Expense - Interest Expense Table (details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||
Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | |||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Interest expense | $13,018,000 | [1] | $10,977,000 | [1],[2] | $37,483,000 | [1] | $30,118,000 | [1],[2] |
Senior Notes 5 Point 375 Percent Due 2021 [Member] | Senior Notes 4 Percent Due 2022 [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Table Text Block Supplement [Abstract] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Amortization related to senior notes | ' | 400,000 | ' | 800,000 | ||||
Third Parties [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Interest expense | 13,018,000 | 10,896,000 | 37,483,000 | 27,434,000 | ||||
Third Parties [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Interest expense on long-term debt | 14,994,000 | 11,919,000 | 43,783,000 | 28,036,000 | ||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs and commitment fees | 1,135,000 | [3] | 1,201,000 | [3] | 3,252,000 | [3] | 3,225,000 | [3] |
Capitalized interest | -3,111,000 | -2,224,000 | -9,552,000 | -3,827,000 | ||||
Affiliated Entity [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Interest expense | 0 | [4] | 81,000 | [4] | 0 | [4] | 2,684,000 | [4] |
Affiliated Entity [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Interest expense on note payable to Anadarko | 0 | [5] | 0 | [5] | 0 | [5] | 2,440,000 | [5] |
Interest expense on affiliate balances | 0 | [6] | 81,000 | [6] | 0 | [6] | 244,000 | [6] |
Senior Notes 2 Point 6 Percent Due 2018 [Member] | Senior Notes 5 Point 375 Percent Due 2021 [Member] | Senior Notes 4 Percent Due 2022 [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Table Text Block Supplement [Abstract] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ||||
Amortization related to senior notes | $300,000 | ' | $800,000 | ' | ||||
[1] | Includes affiliate (as defined in Note 1) interest expense of zero for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, and $0.1 million and $2.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively. See Note 8. | |||||||
[2] | Financial information has been recast to include the financial position and results attributable to the Non-Operated Marcellus Interest. See Note 2. | |||||||
[3] | For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, includes $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of amortization of (i) the original issue discount for the June 2012 offering of the 2022 Notes, partially offset by the original issue premium for the October 2012 offering of the 2022 Notes, (ii) original issue discount for the 2021 Notes and 2018 Notes and (iii) underwriters’ fees. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, includes $0.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of amortization of the original issue discount and underwriters’ fees for the 2022 Notes issued in June 2012 and the 2021 Notes. | |||||||
[4] | For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, includes interest expense recognized on the WES note payable to Anadarko (see Note 8) and interest imputed on the reimbursement payable to Anadarko for certain expenditures Anadarko incurred in 2011 related to the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants. WES repaid the WES note payable to Anadarko in June 2012, and repaid the reimbursement payable to Anadarko related to the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants in the fourth quarter of 2012. See Note receivable from and amounts payable to Anadarko within this Note 5. | |||||||
[5] | In June 2012, the WES note payable to Anadarko was repaid in full. See WES note payable to Anadarko within this Note 8. | |||||||
[6] | Imputed interest expense on the reimbursement payable to Anadarko for certain expenditures Anadarko incurred in 2011 related to the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants. In the fourth quarter of 2012, WES repaid the reimbursement payable to Anadarko associated with the construction of the Brasada and Lancaster plants. |
Debt_and_Interest_Expense_Addi
Debt and Interest Expense - Additional Information (details) (USD $) | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2011 | Mar. 31, 2011 | Aug. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Oct. 31, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | 31-May-11 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2008 | Nov. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 |
Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Minimum [Member] | Maximum [Member] | Senior Notes 2 Point 6 Percent Due 2018 [Member] | Senior Notes 2 Point 6 Percent Due 2018 [Member] | Senior Notes 2 Point 6 Percent Due 2018 [Member] | Senior Notes 2 Point 6 Percent Due 2018 [Member] | Senior Notes 4 Percent Due 2022 [Member] | Senior Notes 4 Percent Due 2022 [Member] | Senior Notes 4 Percent Due 2022 [Member] | Senior Notes 4 Percent Due 2022 [Member] | Senior Notes 5 Point 375 Percent Due 2021 [Member] | Senior Notes 5 Point 375 Percent Due 2021 [Member] | Senior Notes 5 Point 375 Percent Due 2021 [Member] | Note Payable To Anadarko [Member] | Note Payable To Anadarko [Member] | Note Payable To Anadarko [Member] | Working Capital Facility [Member] | Working Capital Facility [Member] | Working Capital Facility [Member] | |||
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Indemnification Agreement [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | ||||||
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Western Gas Partners [Member] | |||||||||||||||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Principal | $1,520,000,000 | $1,170,000,000 | $0 | $100,000,000 | ' | ' | $250,000,000 | $250,000,000 | $0 | ' | $520,000,000 | $670,000,000 | $670,000,000 | $150,000,000 | $500,000,000 | $500,000,000 | $500,000,000 | ' | ' | $175,000,000 | ' | ' | ' |
Fixed interest rate | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2.60% | ' | ' | ' | 4.00% | ' | ' | 4.00% | ' | ' | 5.38% | ' | 2.82% | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Offering percent | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 99.88% | ' | ' | ' | 99.19% | ' | ' | 105.18% | ' | ' | 98.78% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Effective interest rate | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 2.81% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Debt instrument, maturity date | ' | ' | ' | 24-Mar-16 | ' | ' | ' | 15-Aug-18 | ' | ' | ' | 1-Jul-22 | ' | ' | 1-Jun-21 | ' | ' | 2-Aug-13 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Underwriting discount | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 1,500,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Realized loss on terminated swap agreement | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 1,700,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Facility, current maximum borrowing capacity | ' | ' | ' | 800,000,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 30,000,000 | ' | ' |
Facility, interest rate at period end | ' | ' | 1.71% | 1.68% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 1.68% | 1.71% |
Facility fee | ' | ' | 0.25% | 0.25% | 0.20% | 0.35% | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Outstanding borrowings | ' | ' | ' | 100,000,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 0 | ' |
Outstanding letters of credit | ' | ' | ' | 12,800,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Available borrowing capacity | ' | ' | ' | 687,200,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Debt financings | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | $250,000,000 | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' |
Interest rate percent above LIBOR | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 1.50% | ' | ' |
Commitments_and_Contingencies_
Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details) (Western Gas Partners [Member], USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||||||
In Millions, unless otherwise specified | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2013 | |
Purchase Commitment [Member] | Mont Belvieu JV [Member] | Mont Belvieu JV [Member] | ||||||
Loss Contingencies [Line Items] | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | |
Committed capital | $61.30 | ' | $61.30 | ' | ' | $13.60 | ' | |
Term of instrument or obligation | ' | ' | ' | ' | '12 months | '6 months | ' | |
Equity method investment ownership | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | ' | 25.00% | [1] |
Rent expense associated with office and equipment leases | $0.60 | $0.80 | $2 | $2.30 | ' | ' | ' | |
[1] | The acquisition from a third party consisted of a 25% interest in Enterprise EF78 LLC, an entity formed to design, construct, and own two fractionators located in Mont Belvieu, Texas. The interest acquired is accounted for under the equity method of accounting and is referred to as the “Mont Belvieu JV†and the acquisition as the “Mont Belvieu JV acquisition.†See Mont Belvieu JV acquisition below for further information. |