Incentive Compensation Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Incentive Compensation Plans

Schedule of share-based compensation plans

Share-based compensation plan	Award Classification	Further awards authorized for issuance under plan as of December 31, 2012	Awards outstanding under the plan as of December 31, 2012	Final Year of Activity
2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan ("2008 LTIP")	Equity	Yes	Yes		N/A
2006 Hydrocarbon Stock Incentive Plan ("2006 Hydrocarbon Plan")	Equity	No	No		2010
Long-Term Incentive Plan ("2002 LTIP")	Liability	No	No		2011

Compensation expense recorded for share-based pay arrangements

Total compensation expense recorded for share-based pay arrangements was as follows (in thousands):

	Year ended December 31,
	2012		2011		2010
Phantom units	$	14,615	$	13,479	$	15,319
Distribution equivalent rights(1)		41		446		1,465
Total compensation expense	$	14,656	$	13,925	$	16,784

(1)

A distribution equivalent right is a right, granted in tandem with a specific phantom unit, to receive an amount in cash equal to, and at the same time as, the cash distributions made by the Partnership with respect to a unit during the period such phantom unit is outstanding. Payment of distribution equivalent rights associated with units that are expected to vest are recorded as capital distributions, however, payments associated with units that are not expected to vest are recorded as compensation expense.

2008 LTIP and 2006 Hydrocarbon Plan

Share-based compensation arrangement by share-based payment award

Phantom unit activity

	Number of Units			Weighted- average Grant-date Fair Value
Unvested at December 31, 2011 (includes 141,000 TSR Performance units)		935,509			28.59
Granted (includes 35,250 TSR Performance units)		296,545			57.50
Vested (includes 176,250 TSR Performance units)		(386,334	)		26.98
Forfeited		(158,144	)		11.95
Unvested at December 31, 2012		687,576			45.79