Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts we report as assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and our disclosures in these consolidated financial statements. Actual results can differ from those estimates.

Cash

We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of less than three months to be cash.

Inventory

Inventory for our marketing, supply and logistics operations are stated at the lower of cost or market and cost is computed predominantly using the average cost method. Our inventory consists primarily of crude oil and NGLs of approximately $56.7 million and $35.4 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at is original cost of construction or, upon acquisition, at the fair value of the assets acquired. For assets we construct, we capitalize direct costs, such as labor and materials, and indirect costs, such as overhead and interest. We capitalize major units of property replacements or improvement and expense minor items. Depreciation is computed by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, as follows:



	Years
Gathering systems and pipelines	20
Facilities and equipment	20
Buildings, rights-of-way and easements	20 – 40
Office furniture and fixtures	5 – 10
Vehicles	5

We deplete salt deposits included in our property, plant and equipment utilizing the unit of production method.

We evaluate our long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If such events or changes in circumstances are present, a loss is recognized if the carrying value of the asset is in excess of the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. An impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset, which is typically based on discounted cash flow projections using assumptions as to revenues, costs and discount rates typical of third party market participants, which is a Level 3 fair value measurement.

We did not record impairments of our property, plant and equipment during the year ended December 31, 2016. During 2015 and 2014, we recorded the following impairments of our property, plant and equipment and we reflected these impairments in loss on long-lived assets in our consolidated statements of operations:

•

During 2015 and 2014, we incurred $8.5 million and $13.2 million of impairments of our property, plant and equipment related to our Granite Wash gathering and processing operations, which resulted from decreases in forecasted cash flows for those operations given that our major customer of those assets declared bankruptcy and ceased substantial drilling in the Granite Wash in the near future given current and future anticipated market conditions related to normal gas and NGLs. The fair value of our property, plant and equipment related to our Granite Wash operations was $11.2 million as of December 31, 2015.

•

During 2015, Crestwood Equity incurred a $354.4 million impairment of its property, plant and equipment related to its Barnett gathering and processing operations, which resulted from the actions of our primary customer in the Barnett Shale, Quicksilver Resources, Inc. (Quicksilver), related to its filing for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in 2015. The fair value of our property, plant and equipment related to our Barnett operations was $298.5 million as of December 31, 2015. Crestwood Midstream did not record an impairment of its property, plant and equipment related to its gathering and processing assets in the Barnett Shale as the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition exceeded the carrying value of the property, plant and equipment by over 30%. As a result, Crestwood Midstream’s property, plant and equipment exceeds Crestwood Equity’s property, plant and equipment related to its gathering and processing assets in the Barnett Shale as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.

•

During 2015, we incurred $61.9 million and $45.7 million of impairments of property, plant and equipment related to our Fayetteville and Haynesville gathering and processing operations, respectively, which resulted from decreases in forecasted cash flows for those operations given that our customers for those assets have ceased any substantial drilling in the Fayetteville and Haynesville Shales in the near future given current and future anticipated market conditions related to natural gas. The fair value of our property, plant and equipment related to our Fayetteville and Haynesville operations was $59.3 million and $3.8 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2015.

•

During 2015, we incurred a $31.2 million impairment of our property, plant and equipment related to our Watkins Glen development project in our marketing, supply and logistics segment, which resulted from continued delays and uncertainties in the permitting of our proposed NGL storage facility. The fair value of our property, plant and equipment related to our Watkins Glen development project was $6.7 million as of December 31, 2015.

At December 31, 2015, our estimates of fair value considered a number of factors, including the potential value we would receive if we sold the asset, a 15% discount rate and projected cash flows, which is a Level 3 fair value measurement. Projected cash flows of our property, plant and equipment are generally based on current and anticipated future market conditions, which require significant judgment to make projections and assumptions about pricing, demand, competition, operating costs, constructions costs, legal and regulatory issues and other factors that may extend many years into the future and are often outside of our control. Due to the imprecise nature of these projections and assumptions, actual results can and often do, differ from our estimates.

Identifiable Intangible Assets

Our identifiable intangible assets consist of customer accounts, covenants not to compete, trademarks and certain revenue contracts. Customer accounts, covenants not to compete, trademarks and certain of our revenue contracts have arisen from acquisitions. We amortize certain of our revenue contracts based on the projected cash flows associated with these contracts if the projected cash flows are readily determinable, otherwise we amortize our revenue contracts on a straight-line basis. We recognize acquired intangible assets separately if the benefit of the intangible asset is obtained through contractual or other legal rights, or if the intangible asset can be sold, transferred, licensed, rented or exchanged, regardless of the acquirer’s intent to do so.

Goodwill

Identifiable Intangible Assets

During 2016, 2015 and 2014, we recorded the following impairments of our intangible assets and we reflected these impairments in loss on long-lived assets in our consolidated statements of operations:

•

During 2016, we incurred a $31.4 million impairment of intangible assets related to our MS&L Trucking operations, which resulted from the impact of increased competition on our Trucking business and the loss of several key customer relationships that were acquired in 2013 to which the intangible assets related. The fair value of our intangible assets related to our MS&L Trucking operations was $3.7 million as of December 31, 2016.


•	During 2015, Crestwood Equity fully impaired $238.9 million of its intangible assets related to its Barnett gathering and processing operations, which resulted from the actions of our primary customer in the Barnett Shale, Quicksilver, related to filing for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in 2015.

•

During 2015, we fully impaired $70.9 million and $6.0 million of intangible assets related to our Fayetteville and Haynesville gathering and processing operations, respectively, which resulted from decreases in forecasted cash flows for those operations given that our customers for those assets have ceased any substantial drilling in the Fayetteville and Haynesville Shales in the near future given current and future anticipated market conditions related to natural gas.

•

During 2014, we fully impaired $20 million of intangible assets related to our Granite Wash gathering and processing operations, which resulted from decreases in forecasted cash flows for those operations given that our major customer of those assets declared bankruptcy and ceased substantial drilling in the Granite Wash in the near future given current and future anticipated market conditions related to natural gas and NGLs.

At December 31, 2016, our estimates of fair value considered a number of factors, including the potential value we would receive if we sold the asset, a 19% discount rate and projected cash flows, which is a Level 3 fair value measurement. Projected cash flows of our intangible assets are generally based on current and anticipated future market conditions, which require significant judgment to make projections and assumptions about pricing, demand, competition, operating costs, construction costs, legal and regulatory issues and other factors that may extend many years into the future and are often outside of our control. Due to the imprecise nature of these projections and assumptions, actual results can and often do, differ from our estimates.

Certain intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated economic lives, as follows:



	Weighted-Average Life (years)
Customer accounts	20
Covenants not to compete	5
Trademarks	6 - 8

Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliate

Investment in Unconsolidated Affiliates

Equity method investments in which we exercise significant influence, but do not control and are not the primary beneficiary, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Differences in the basis of investments and the separate net asset values of the investees, if any, are amortized into net income or loss over the remaining useful lives of the underlying assets and liabilities, except for the excess related to goodwill. We evaluate our equity method investments for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the equity method investment may be impaired and that impairment is other than temporary. If an event occurs, we evaluate the recoverability of our carrying value based on the fair value of the investment. If an impairment is indicated, or if we decide to sell an investment in unconsolidated affiliate, we adjust the carrying values of the asset downward, if necessary, to their estimated fair values.

Asset Retirement Obligations

An asset retirement obligation (ARO) is an estimated liability for the cost to retire a tangible asset. We record a liability for legal or contractual obligations to retire our long-lived assets associated with right-of-way contracts we hold at our facilities whether owned or leased. We record a liability in the period the obligation is incurred and estimable. An ARO is initially recorded at its estimated fair value with a corresponding increase to property, plant and equipment. This increase in property, plant and equipment is then depreciated over the useful life of the asset to which that liability relates. An ongoing expense is recognized for changes in the fair value of the liability as a result of the passage of time, which we record as depreciation, amortization and accretion expense on our consolidated statements of operations. The fair value of certain AROs could not be determined as the settlement dates (or range of dates) associated with these assets were not estimable. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, our AROs were reflected in other long-term liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. See Note 5 for a further discussion of our AROs.

Revenue Recognition

We gather, treat, compress, store, transport and sell various commodities (including crude oil, natural gas, NGLs and water) pursuant to fixed-fee and percent-of-proceeds contracts. Under certain of those contracts in our G&P operations and our marketing, supply and logistics operations, we take title to the underlying commodity. We classify the revenues associated with the products to which we take title as product revenues and all other revenues as service revenues in our consolidated statement of operations.

We recognize revenues for these services and products when all of the following criteria are met:

• services have been rendered or products delivered or sold;

• persuasive evidence of an exchange arrangement exists;

• the price for services is fixed or determinable; and

• collectability is reasonably assured.

We record deferred revenue when we receive amounts from our customers but have not met the criteria listed above. We recognize deferred revenue in our consolidated statements of operations when the criteria has been met and all services have been rendered. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, we had deferred revenue of approximately $7.5 million and $14.2 million, which is reflected in accrued expenses and other liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets.

Credit Risk and Concentrations

Inherent in our contractual portfolio are certain credit risks. Credit risk is the risk of loss from nonperformance by suppliers, customers or financial counterparties to a contract. We take an active role in managing credit risk and have established control procedures, which are reviewed on an ongoing basis. We attempt to minimize credit risk exposure through credit policies and periodic monitoring procedures as well as through customer deposits, letters of credit and entering into netting agreements that allow for offsetting counterparty receivable and payable balances for certain financial transactions, as deemed appropriate.

Income Taxes

Crestwood Equity is a master limited partnership and Crestwood Midstream is a limited partnership. Partnerships are generally not subject to federal income tax, although publicly-traded partnerships are treated as corporations for federal income tax purposes and therefore are subject to federal income tax, unless the partnership generates at least 90% of its gross income from qualifying sources. If the qualifying income requirement is satisfied, the publicly-traded partnership will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. We satisfy the qualifying income requirement and are treated as a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes. Our consolidated earnings are included in the federal and state income tax returns of our partners. However, legislation in certain states allows for taxation of partnerships, and as such, certain state taxes have been included in our accompanying financial statements as income taxes due to the nature of the tax in those particular states as discussed below. In addition, federal and state income taxes are provided on the earnings of the subsidiaries incorporated as taxable entities. We are required to recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities using expected rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.

We are responsible for the Texas Margin tax computed on the Texas franchise tax returns. The margin tax qualifies as an income tax under GAAP, which requires us to recognize the impact of this tax on the temporary differences between the financial statement assets and liabilities and their tax basis attributable to such tax.

Net earnings for financial statement purposes may differ significantly from taxable income reportable to unitholders as a result of differences between the tax basis and the financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities and the taxable income allocation requirements under the partnership agreement.

Environmental Costs and Other Contingencies

We recognize liabilities for environmental and other contingencies when there is an exposure that indicates it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. Where the most likely outcome of a contingency can be reasonably estimated, we accrue a liability for that amount. Where the most likely outcome cannot be estimated, a range of potential losses is established and if no one amount in that range is more likely than any other, the low end of range is accrued.

We record liabilities for environmental contingencies at their undiscounted amounts on our consolidated balance sheets as accrued expenses and other liabilities when environmental assessments indicate that remediation efforts are probable and costs can be reasonably estimated. Estimates of our liabilities are based on currently available facts and presently enacted laws and regulations, taking into consideration the likely effects of other societal and economic factors. These estimates are subject to revision in future periods based on actual costs or new circumstances. We capitalize costs that benefit future periods and recognize a current period charge in operations and maintenance expenses when clean-up efforts do not benefit future periods.

We evaluate potential recoveries of amounts from third parties, including insurance coverage, separately from our liability. Recovery is evaluated based on the solvency of the third party, among other factors. When recovery is assured, we record and report an asset separately from the associated liability on our consolidated balance sheet.

Price Risk Management Activities

We utilize certain derivative financial instruments to (i) manage our exposure to commodity price risk, specifically, the related change in the fair value of inventory, as well as the variability of cash flows related to forecasted transactions; (ii) ensure the availability of adequate physical supply of commodity; and (iii) manage our exposure to the interest rate risk associated with fixed and variable rate borrowings. We record all derivative instruments on the balance sheet at their fair values as either assets or liabilities measured at fair value. Changes in the fair value of these derivative financial instruments are recorded through current earnings.

We did not have any derivatives identified as fair value hedges or cash flow hedges for accounting purposes during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 or 2014.

Unit-Based Compensation

Long-term incentive awards are granted under the Crestwood Equity incentive plan. Unit-based compensation awards consist of restricted units that are valued at the closing market price of CEQP’s common units on the date of grant, which reflects the fair value of such awards. For those awards that are settled in cash, the associated liability is remeasured at every balance sheet date through settlement, such that the vested portion of the liability is adjusted to reflect its revised fair value through compensation expense. We generally recognize the expense associated with the award over the vesting period.