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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS [Abstract]  
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
(3)
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
 
The Partnership follows the provisions of ASC 820 related to fair value measurements and disclosures, which established a framework for measuring fair value and expanded disclosures about fair value measurements. The adoption of this guidance had no impact on the Partnership's financial position or results of operations.
 
ASC 820 applies to all assets and liabilities that are being measured and reported on a fair value basis. This statement enables the reader of the financial statements to assess the inputs used to develop those measurements by establishing a hierarchy for ranking the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value of each asset and liability carried at fair value into one of the following categories:
 
 
Level 1:
Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 
Level 2:
Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.
 
Level 3:
Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.
 
The Partnership's derivative instruments, which consist of commodity and interest rate swaps, are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value of the Partnership's derivative instruments is determined based on inputs that are readily available in public markets or can be derived from information available in publicly quoted markets, which is considered Level 2. Refer to Note 13 for further information on the Partnership's derivative instruments and hedging activities.

The following items are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are subject to the disclosure requirements of ASC 820 at December 31, 2011:

   
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
      
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
 for
Identical Assets
  
Significant
 Other
Observable
 Inputs
  
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
Description
 
December 31,
 2011
  
(Level 1)
  
(Level 2)
  
(Level 3)
 
Assets
            
Natural gas derivatives
 $622  $-  $622  $- 
Total assets
 $622  $-  $622  $- 
Liabilities
                
Crude oil derivatives
  245   -   245   - 
Natural gas liquids derivatives
  117   -   117   - 
Total liabilities
 $362  $-  $362  $- 
 
The following items are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are subject to the disclosure requirements of ASC 820 at December 31, 2010:

   
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
      
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
 for
Identical Assets
  
Significant
 Other
Observable
 Inputs
  
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
Description
 
December 31,
 2010
  
(Level 1)
  
(Level 2)
  
(Level 3)
 
Assets
            
Interest rate derivatives
 $1,941  $-  $1,941  $- 
Natural gas derivatives
  201   -   201   - 
Total assets
 $2,142  $-  $2,142  $- 
Liabilities
                
Interest rate derivatives
 $3,930  $-  $3,930  $- 
Natural gas derivatives
  28   -   28   - 
Crude oil derivatives
  177   -   177   - 
Natural gas liquids derivatives
  247   -   247   - 
Total liabilities
 $4,382  $-  $4,382  $- 
 
FASB ASC 825-10-65, Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments, requires that the Partnership disclose estimated fair values for its financial instruments.  Fair value estimates are set forth below for the Partnership's financial instruments.  The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument:
 
 
Accounts and other receivables, trade and other accounts payable, other accrued liabilities, income taxes payable and due from/to affiliates - The carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.
 
 
Long-term debt including current installments - The carrying amount of the revolving and term loan facilities approximates fair value due to the debt having a variable interest rate.  The estimated fair value of the Senior Notes was approximately $210,500 as of December 31, 2011, based on market prices of similar debt at December 31, 2011.