Segment Data | Segment Data We aggregate our operating segments into four reportable segments: (i) pipelines and transportation; (ii) wholesale marketing and terminalling; (iii) 3 Bear operations; and (iv) investment in pipeline joint ventures. Based on the manner in which the Partnership’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) is currently reviewing the financial and operating information and metrics of the business of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, inclusive of the 3 Bear Acquisition, the acquisition of 3 Bear resulted in a new operating segment as of and for the period from the Acquisition Date through September 30, 2022, which is deemed to be reportable based on our quantitative assessment. While this new operating segment has certain common characteristics with our pipelines and transportation reportable segment, it also involves new operations (including natural gas gathering, processing and transportation as well as water disposal and recycling) and operates in new geographic location. Additionally, the Acquisition occurred on June 1, 2022, and integration efforts continue to be in process as of September 30, 2022. For these reasons, the 3 Bear operating segment has been presented as a separate reportable segment as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022. As we continue to integrate the 3 Bear operations in the coming quarters and refine how we manage those operations in the context of our overall business, it is possible that segment presentation could change. Our operating segments adhere to the accounting policies used for our consolidated financial statements. Our operating segments are managed separately because each segment requires different industry knowledge, technology and marketing strategies. Decisions concerning the allocation of resources and assessment of operating performance are made based on this segmentation. Management measures the operating performance of each of its reportable segments based on segment contribution margin, with the exception of investments in pipeline joint ventures segment, which is measured based on net income. Segment contribution margin is defined as net revenues less cost of materials and other and operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization. The following is a summary of business segment operating performance as measured by contribution margin, with the exception of investments in pipeline joint ventures segment, which is measured based on equity method income (loss), for the periods indicated (in thousands): (in thousands) Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 2021 2022 2021 Pipelines and Transportation Net revenues: Affiliate $ 79,395 $ 70,879 $ 225,711 $ 199,591 Third party 5,883 5,323 15,978 12,021 Total pipelines and transportation 85,278 76,202 241,689 211,612 Cost of materials and other 20,004 15,170 58,272 42,595 Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization presented below) 11,292 13,680 37,789 34,710 Segment contribution margin $ 53,982 $ 47,352 $ 145,628 $ 134,307 Depreciation and amortization $ 7,847 $ 8,056 $ 23,668 $ 24,918 Capital spending $ 21,151 $ 2,570 $ 50,793 $ 9,946 Wholesale Marketing and Terminalling Net revenues: Affiliate $ 45,162 $ 52,640 $ 144,004 $ 108,844 Third party 102,703 60,785 300,177 190,562 Total wholesale marketing and terminalling 147,865 113,425 444,181 299,406 Cost of materials and other 122,614 89,959 373,126 232,400 Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization presented below) 6,952 3,908 17,397 13,317 Segment contribution margin $ 18,299 $ 19,558 $ 53,658 $ 53,689 Depreciation and amortization $ 2,640 $ 2,100 $ 7,641 $ 5,944 Capital spending $ 278 $ 1,566 $ 1,337 $ 4,580 3 Bear Operations Net revenues: Affiliate $ 2,593 $ — $ 5,555 $ — Third party 58,289 — 75,931 — Total 3 Bear 60,882 — 81,486 — Cost of materials and other 35,122 — 48,897 — Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization presented below) 7,657 — 9,811 — Segment contribution margin $ 18,103 $ — $ 22,778 $ — Depreciation and amortization $ 9,053 $ — $ 11,988 $ — Capital spending $ 10,531 $ — $ 15,642 $ — Investments in Pipeline Joint Ventures Income from equity method investments $ 8,567 $ 7,261 $ 22,666 $ 17,952 Equity method investments contributions $ — $ — $ — $ (1,393) Consolidated Net revenues: Affiliate $ 127,150 $ 123,519 $ 375,270 $ 308,435 Third party 166,875 66,108 392,086 202,583 Total Consolidated 294,025 189,627 767,356 511,018 Cost of materials and other 177,740 105,129 480,295 274,995 Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization presented below) 25,901 17,588 64,997 48,027 Contribution margin 90,384 66,910 222,064 187,996 General and administrative expenses 11,959 5,898 30,826 15,933 Depreciation and amortization 19,540 10,156 43,297 30,862 Other operating (income) expense, net (132) 273 (120) 54 Operating income $ 59,017 $ 50,583 $ 148,061 $ 141,147 Capital spending and capital contributions to equity method investments $ 31,960 $ 4,136 $ 67,772 $ 14,526 Assets by segment are not a measure used to assess the performance of the company by the chief operating decision maker and thus are not disclosed . Property, plant and equipment, accumulated depreciation and depreciation expense for the Partnership's reportable segments, excluding the investment in pipeline joint ventures segment, as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 were as follows (in thousands): Pipelines and Transportation Wholesale Marketing and Terminalling 3 Bear Operations Consolidated Property, plant and equipment $ 657,788 $ 122,096 $ 398,450 $ 1,178,334 Less: accumulated depreciation (229,206) (67,817) (5,711) (302,734) Property, plant and equipment, net $ 428,582 $ 54,279 $ 392,739 $ 875,600 Depreciation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2022 $ 7,847 $ 2,640 $ 4,284 $ 14,771 Depreciation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 $ 23,668 $ 7,641 $ 6,277 $ 37,586 In accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant & Equipment |