The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Estimates affect, among other items, valuing identified intangible assets; determining the fair value of derivative instruments; valuing inventory; evaluating impairments of long-lived assets, goodwill and equity investments; establishing estimated useful lives for long-lived assets; recognition of share-based compensation expense; estimating revenues and expense accruals; valuing asset retirement obligations; and in determining liabilities, if any, for legal contingencies.

The Partnership considers investments in highly liquid financial instruments purchased with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. Such investments include money market accounts.

Restricted cash includes cash and investments that must be held in escrow until certain capital projects are completed and the third party releases the restriction. Restricted cash balances for which the restrictions will not be released within a period of twelve months are classified as a long-term asset in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Inventories, which consist primarily of natural gas, propane, other NGLs and spare parts and supplies, are valued at the lower of weighted-average cost or market. Processed natural gas inventories include material, labor and overhead. Shipping and handling costs related to purchases of natural gas and NGLs are included in inventory.

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Expenditures that extend the useful lives of assets are capitalized. Repairs, maintenance and renewals that do not extend the useful lives of the assets are expensed as incurred. Interest costs for the construction or development of long-lived assets are capitalized and amortized over the related asset's estimated useful life. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the useful life or lease term. Depreciation is provided, principally on the straight-line method, over a period of 20 to 25 years for all assets, with the exception of miscellaneous equipment and vehicles, which are depreciated over a period of three to ten years.

The Partnership evaluates transactions involving the sale of property, plant and equipment to determine if they are, in-substance, the sale of real estate. Tangible assets may be considered real estate if the costs to relocate them for use in a different location exceeds 10% of the asset's fair value. Financial assets, primarily in the form of ownership interests in an entity, may be in-substance real estate based on the significance of the real estate in the entity. Sales of real estate are not considered consummated if the Partnership maintains an interest in the asset after it is sold or has certain other forms of continuing involvement. Significant judgment is required to determine if a transaction is a sale of real estate and if a transaction has been consummated. If a sale of real estate is not considered consummated, the Partnership cannot record the transaction as a sale and must account for the transaction under an alternative method of accounting such as a financing or leasing arrangement. The Partnership's 2009 sale of the SMR, which was considered in-substance real estate, was not considered a sale due to the Partnership's continuing involvement and was accounted for as a financing arrangement. The Partnership's sale of equity interest in MarkWest Pioneer in 2009 was considered the sale of in-substance real estate. See Note 5 and Note 4, respectively, for a description of each transaction and its impact on the financial statements.

An asset retirement obligation ("ARO") is a legal obligation associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets that generally result from the acquisition, construction, development or normal operation of the asset. AROs are recorded at fair value in the period in which they are incurred, if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made, and added to the carrying amount of the associated asset. This additional carrying amount is then depreciated over the life of the asset. The liability is determined using a risk free interest rate, and increases due to the passage of time based on the time value of money until the obligation is settled. The Partnership recognizes a liability of a conditional ARO as soon as the fair value of the liability can be reasonably estimated. A conditional ARO is defined as an unconditional legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and/or method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity.

Equity investments in which the Partnership exercises significant influence, but does not control and is not the primary beneficiary, are accounted for using the equity method, and are reported in Investment in unconsolidated affiliate in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Partnership believes the equity method is an appropriate means for it to recognize increases or decreases measured by GAAP in the economic resources underlying the investments. Regular evaluation of these investments is appropriate to evaluate any potential need for impairment. It uses the following types of evidence of a loss in value to identify a loss in value of an investment that is other than a temporary decline. Examples of an other-than-temporary loss in value may be identified by:

The Partnership's intangibles are comprised of customer contracts and relationships acquired in business combinations and recorded under the purchase method of accounting at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. Using relevant information and assumptions, management determines the fair value of acquired identifiable intangible assets. Fair value is generally calculated as the present value of estimated future cash flows using a risk-adjusted discount rate. The key assumptions include probability of contract renewals, economic incentives to retain customers, historical volumes, current and future capacity of the gathering system, pricing volatility and the discount rate. Amortization of intangibles with definite lives is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the intangible asset. The estimated economic life is determined by assessing the life of the assets to which the contracts and relationships relate, likelihood of renewals, the projected reserves, competitive factors, regulatory or legal provisions and maintenance and renewal costs.

Goodwill is the cost of an acquisition less the fair value of the net identifiable assets of the acquired business. The Partnership evaluates goodwill for impairment annually as of November 30, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The Partnership first assesses qualitative factors to evaluate whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as the basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. If a two-step process goodwill impairment test is required, the first step involves comparing the fair value of the reporting unit, to which goodwill has been allocated, with its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the process involves comparing the implied fair value to the carrying value of the goodwill for that reporting unit. If the carrying value of the goodwill of a reporting unit exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, the excess of the carrying value over the implied fair value is recognized as an impairment loss.

The Partnership's policy is to evaluate whether there has been an impairment in the value of long-lived assets when certain events indicate that the remaining balance may not be recoverable. The Partnership evaluates the carrying value of its property, plant and equipment on at least a segment level and at lower levels where the cash flows for specific assets can be identified and are largely independent from other asset groups. A long-lived asset group is considered impaired when the estimated undiscounted cash flows from such asset group are less than the asset group's carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the long-lived asset group. Fair value is determined primarily using estimated discounted cash flows. Management considers the volume of reserves behind the asset and future NGL product and natural gas prices to estimate cash flows. The amount of additional reserves developed by future drilling activity depends, in part, on expected natural gas prices. Projections of reserves, drilling activity and future commodity prices are inherently subjective and contingent upon a number of variable factors, many of which are difficult to forecast. Any significant variance in any of these assumptions or factors could materially affect future cash flows, which could result in the impairment of an asset group.

For assets identified to be disposed of in the future, the carrying value of these assets is compared to the estimated fair value, less the cost to sell, to determine if impairment is required. Until the assets are disposed of, an estimate of the fair value is re-determined when related events or circumstances change.

Deferred financing costs are amortized over the contractual term of the related obligations or, in certain circumstances, accelerated if the obligation is refinanced, using the effective interest method.

The Partnership may pay consideration to a producer upon entering a long-term arrangement to provide midstream services to the producer. In such cases, the amount of consideration paid is recorded as Deferred contract cost, net of accumulated amortization on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and is amortized over the term of the arrangement.

Derivative instruments (including derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) are recorded at fair value and included in the consolidated balance sheet as assets or liabilities. Assets and liabilities related to derivative instruments with the same counterparty are not netted in the consolidated balance sheet. The Partnership discloses the fair value of all of its derivative instruments separate from other assets and liabilities under the caption Fair value of derivative instruments in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, inclusive of option premiums (net of amortization). Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments are reported in the Statement of Operations in accounts related to the item whose value or cash flows are being managed. Substantially all derivative instruments were marked to market through Revenue, Purchased product costs, Facility expenses, Interest expense or Miscellaneous income (expense), net. Revenue gains and losses relate to contracts utilized to manage the cash flow for the sale of a product and the amortization of associated option premiums. Option premiums are amortized over the effective term of the corresponding option contract. Purchased product costs gains and losses relate to contracts utilized to manage costs, typically in a keep-whole arrangement. Facility expenses gains and losses relate to a contract utilized to manage electricity costs. Interest expense gains relate to contracts to manage the interest rate risk associated with the fair value of its fixed rate borrowings. Miscellaneous income (expense), net relate to changes in the fair value of certain embedded put options (see Note 6). Changes in risk management activities are reported as an adjustment to net income in computing cash flow from operating activities on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

During 2011, 2010 and 2009, the Partnership did not designate any hedges or designate any contracts as normal purchases and normal sales.

Management believes the carrying amount of financial instruments, including cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these instruments. The recorded value of the amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility approximates fair value due to the variable interest rate that approximates current market rates. Derivative instruments are recorded at fair value, based on available market information (see Note 6). The following table shows the carrying value and related fair value of financial instruments that are not recorded in the financial statements at fair value as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 (in thousands):

	December 31, 2011				December 31, 2010

	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Long-term debt	$	1,846,062	$	1,880,710	$	1,273,434	$	1,333,875
SMR Liability		93,909		119,887		95,784		125,600

The fair value of the long-term debt is estimated based on recent market quotes. The fair value of the SMR Liability is estimated using a discounted cash flow approach based on the contractual cash flows and the Partnership's unsecured borrowing rate.

Financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheet are categorized based upon a fair value hierarchy established by GAAP, which classifies the inputs used to measure fair value into the following levels:

A financial instrument's categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The determination to classify a financial instrument with Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy is based upon the significance of the unobservable inputs to the overall fair value measurement. However, Level 3 financial instruments typically include, in addition to the unobservable or Level 3 inputs, observable inputs (that is, inputs that are actively quoted and can be validated to external sources); accordingly, the gains and losses for Level 3 financial instruments include changes in fair value due in part to observable inputs that are part of the valuation methodology. Level 3 financial instruments include interest rate swaps, crude oil options, all NGL derivatives, the embedded derivatives in commodity contracts and the embedded put options discussed in Note 6 and Note 16 as they have significant unobservable inputs.

The methods and assumptions described above may produce a fair value that may not be realized in future periods upon settlement. Furthermore, while the Partnership believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date. For further discussion see Note 7.

The Partnership generates the majority of its revenues from natural gas gathering, transportation and processing; NGL transportation, fractionation, marketing and storage; and crude oil gathering and transportation. It enters into a variety of contract types. The Partnership provides services under the following different types of arrangements:

In many cases, the Partnership provides services under contracts that contain a combination of more than one of the arrangements described above. The terms of the Partnership's contracts vary based on gas quality conditions, the competitive environment when the contracts are signed and customer requirements. It is upon delivery and title transfer that the Partnership meets all four revenue recognition criteria and it is at such time that the Partnership recognizes revenue.

The Partnership's assessment of each of the revenue recognition criteria as they relate to its revenue producing activities is as follows:

Persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists. The Partnership's customary practice is to enter into a written contract, executed by both the customer and the Partnership.

Delivery. Delivery is deemed to have occurred at the time the product is delivered and title is transferred or, in the case of fee-based arrangements, when the services are rendered.

The fee is fixed or determinable. The Partnership negotiates the fee for its services at the outset of its fee-based arrangements. In these arrangements, the fees are nonrefundable. For other arrangements, the amount of revenue is determinable when the sale of the applicable product has been completed upon delivery and transfer of title.

Collectability is reasonably assured. Collectability is evaluated on a customer-by-customer basis. New and existing customers are subject to a credit review process, which evaluates a customer's financial position (e.g. cash position and credit rating) and its ability to pay. If collectability is not considered reasonably assured at the outset of an arrangement in accordance with the Partnership's credit review process, revenue is recognized when the fee is collected.

The Partnership enters into revenue arrangements where it sells customers' gas and/or NGLs and depending on the nature of the arrangement acts as the principal or agent. Revenue from such sales is recognized gross where the Partnership acts as the principal, as the Partnership takes title to the gas and/or NGLs, has physical inventory risk and does not earn a fixed amount. Revenue is recognized net when the Partnership acts as an agent and earns a fixed amount and does not take ownership of the gas and/or NGLs.

Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling, including fuel costs, are included in Revenue. Shipping and handling costs associated with product sales are included in operating expenses. Taxes collected from customers and remitted to the appropriate taxing authority are excluded from revenue.

The Partnership routinely makes accruals based on estimates for both revenues and expenses due to the timing of compiling billing information, receiving certain third party information and reconciling the Partnership's records with those of third parties. The delayed information from third parties includes, among other things, actual volumes purchased, transported or sold, adjustments to inventory and invoices for purchases, actual natural gas and NGL deliveries and other operating expenses. The Partnership makes accruals to reflect estimates for these items based on its internal records and information from third parties. Estimated accruals are adjusted when actual information is received from third parties and the Partnership's internal records have been reconciled.

The Partnership issues phantom units under its share-based compensation plans as described further in Note 20. A phantom unit entitles the grantee to receive a common unit upon the vesting of the phantom unit. Phantom units are treated as equity awards and compensation expense is measured for these phantom unit grants based on the fair value of the units on the grant date, as defined by GAAP. The fair value of the units awarded is amortized into earnings, reduced for an estimate of expected forfeitures, over the period of service corresponding with the vesting period. For certain plans, the awards are accounted for as liability awards and the compensation expense is adjusted monthly for the change in the fair value of the unvested units granted.

To satisfy common unit awards, the Partnership may issue new common units, acquire common units in the open market, or use common units already owned by the general partner.

The Partnership is not a taxable entity for federal income tax purposes. As such, the Partnership does not directly pay federal income tax. The Partnership's taxable income or loss, which may vary substantially from the net income or loss reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, is includable in the federal income tax returns of each partner. The Partnership is, however, a taxable entity under certain state jurisdictions. The Corporation is a tax paying entity for both federal and state purposes.

The Partnership and the Corporation account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis, capital loss carryforwards and net operating loss and credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates applied to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of any tax rate change on deferred taxes is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date of the tax rate change. Realizability of deferred tax assets is assessed and, if not more likely than not, a valuation allowance is recorded to reflect the deferred tax assets at net realizable value as determined by management. Deferred tax balances that are expected to be settled within twelve months are classified as current and all other deferred tax balances are classified as long-term in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. All changes in the tax bases of assets and liabilities are allocated among continued operations and items charged or credited directly to equity.

The Corporation recognizes a tax expense or a tax benefit on its proportionate share of Partnership income or loss resulting from the Corporation's ownership of Class A units of the Partnership even though for financial reporting purposes said income or loss is eliminated in consolidation. The Class A units were issued to the Corporation as part of the Merger and represent limited partner interests with the same rights as common units except that the Class A units do not have voting rights, except as required by law. Class A units are not treated as outstanding common units in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as they are eliminated in the consolidation of the Corporation. The deferred income tax component relates to the change in the temporary book to tax basis difference in the carrying amount of the investment in the Partnership which results primarily from its timing differences in the Corporation's proportionate share of the book income or loss as compared with the Corporation's proportionate share of the taxable income or loss of the Partnership.

The Partnership's outstanding phantom units are considered to be participating securities and the Class B units are considered to be a separate class of common units that do not participate in cash distributions. Therefore, basic and diluted earnings per common unit are calculated pursuant to the two-class method described in the generally accepted accounting principles for earnings per share. In accordance with the two-class method, basic earnings per common unit is calculated by dividing net income attributable to the Partnership, after deducting amounts that are allocable to the outstanding phantom units and Class B units, by the weighted average number of common units outstanding during the period. The amount allocable to the phantom units and Class B units is generally calculated as if all of the net income attributable to the Partnership were distributed and not on the basis of actual cash distributions for the period. However, no earnings are allocable to Class B units as they do not participate in cash distributions. During periods in which a net loss attributable to the Partnership is reported or periods in which the total distributions exceed the reported net income attributable to the Partnership, the amount allocable to the phantom units and Class B units is based on actual distributions to the phantom units and Class B unitholders. Diluted earnings per unit is calculated by dividing net income attributable to the Partnership, after deducting amounts allocable to the outstanding phantom units and Class B units, by the weighted average number of potential common units outstanding during the period. Potential common units are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per unit during periods in which net income attributable to the Partnership, after deducting amounts that are allocable to the outstanding phantom units and Class B units, is a loss as the impact would be anti-dilutive.

Transactions in which the Partnership acquires control of a business are accounted for under the acquisition method. The identifiable assets, liabilities and any non-controlling interests are recorded at the estimated fair market values as of the acquisition date. The purchase price in excess of the fair value acquired is recorded as goodwill.

The Partnership's ownership interest in a consolidated subsidiary may change if it sells a portion of its interest, or acquires additional interest or if the subsidiary issues or repurchases its own shares. If the transaction does not result in a change in control over the subsidiary, the transaction is accounted for as an equity transaction. If a sale results in a change in control, it would result in the deconsolidation of a subsidiary with a gain or loss recognized in the statement of operations. If the purchase of additional interest occurs which changes the acquirer's ownership interest from non-controlling to controlling, the acquirer's preexisting interest in the acquiree is remeasured to its fair value, with a resulting gain or loss recorded in earnings upon consummation of the business combination. Once an entity has control of a subsidiary, its acquisitions of some or all of the noncontrolling interests in that subsidiary are accounted for as equity transactions and are not considered to be a business combination. See Note 4 for a description of the transactions that resulted in a change in the Partnership's ownership interest in a subsidiary and the impact of these transactions to the financial statements.

In September 2009, the FASB amended the accounting guidance for revenue recognition for multiple-deliverable arrangements. The amended guidance establishes a hierarchy for determining the selling price of each individual deliverable and eliminates the residual value method of allocating the selling price. The amended guidance is effective for the Partnership prospectively for all revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified on or after January 1, 2011. The amendment did not have a material effect on the Partnership's consolidated financial statements.

In May 2011, the FASB amended the accounting guidance for fair value measurement and disclosure. The amended guidance was intended to converge the fair value measurement and disclosure requirements under GAAP and IFRS. The amendment primarily clarifies the application of the existing guidance and provides for increased disclosures, particularly related to Level 3 fair value measurements. The amended guidance is effective for the Partnership prospectively as of January 1, 2012. Except for the additional disclosures, the adoption of the amended guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Partnership's consolidated financial statements.

In September 2011, the FASB amended the accounting guidance for goodwill impairment testing. The amended guidance provides an entity with an option to first assess qualitative factors to evaluate whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as the basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The Partnership elected early adoption for the period ended December 31, 2011 and the adoption did not have a material effect on the Partnership's consolidated financial statements.

In December 2011, the FASB amended the accounting guidance for balance sheet offsetting for financial assets and financial liabilities. The amended guidance was intended to help investors and other financial statement users to better assess the effect or potential effect of offsetting arrangements on a company's financial position and provides for increased disclosures. The amended guidance is effective for the Partnership prospectively as of January 1, 2013. Except for the additional disclosures, the adoption of the amended guidance is not expected to have a material effect on the Partnership's consolidated financial statements.