2.2.0.25falsefalse0201 - Disclosure - Organization, Basis of Presentation, and Description of Businesstruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Jan-01-2011_Mar-31-2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001324518duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDEPSDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0us-gaap_GeneralPoliciesAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseOrganization, Basis of Presentation, and Description of Business [Abstract]3false0us-gaap_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsDisclosureTextBlockus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00    <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="left"> </div> <div align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"><b> </b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><b>Note 1. Organization, Basis of Presentation, and Description of Business</b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><b><i>Organization</i></b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, references in this report to “we,” “our,” “us” or similar language refer to Williams Partners L.P. and its subsidiaries. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     We are a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership. Williams Partners GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company wholly owned by The Williams Companies, Inc. (Williams), serves as our general partner. As of March 31, 2011, Williams owns an approximate 73 percent limited partner interest, a 2 percent general partner interest and incentive distribution rights (IDRs) in us. All of our activities are conducted through Williams Partners Operating LLC (OLLC), an operating limited liability company (wholly owned by us). </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements do not include all the notes in our annual financial statements and, therefore, should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2010 in our Annual report on Form 10-K. The accompanying interim consolidated financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly our financial position at March 31, 2011, results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, changes in equity for the three months ended March 31, 2011, and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><b><i>Basis of Presentation</i></b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     During fourth-quarter 2010, we closed the acquisition of a business represented by certain gathering and processing assets in Colorado’s Piceance Basin from a subsidiary of Williams (the Piceance Acquisition). As the acquired assets were purchased from a subsidiary of Williams, the transaction was accounted for as a combination of entities under common control whereby the assets and liabilities acquired are combined with ours at their historical amounts. The acquired assets are reported in our Midstream Gas & Liquids (Midstream) segment, which includes a recast of the statement of income for the prior period. The effect of recasting our financial statements to account for this transaction increased net income by $9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. This acquisition does not impact historical earnings per unit as pre-acquisition earnings were allocated to our general partner. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><b><i>Description of Business</i></b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     Our operations are located in the United States and are organized into the following reporting segments: Gas Pipeline and Midstream. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     Gas Pipeline is comprised primarily of the following interstate natural gas pipeline assets: </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC (Transco), an interstate natural gas pipeline extending from the Gulf of Mexico region to the northeastern United States;</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Northwest Pipeline GP (Northwest Pipeline), an interstate natural gas pipeline extending from the San Juan basin in northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado to Oregon and Washington;</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>A 24.5 percent equity interest in Gulfstream Natural Gas System L.L.C. (Gulfstream), an interstate natural gas pipeline extending from the Mobile Bay area in Alabama to markets in Florida.</td> </tr> </table> </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div style="margin-top: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     Midstream is comprised primarily of the following natural gas gathering, processing and treating facilities, oil gathering and transportation facilities and natural gas liquid (NGL) transportation, fractionation and storage facilities and investments: </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Two gathering systems and the Echo Springs and Opal processing plants serving the Wamsutter and southwest areas of Wyoming;</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>A gathering system, the Ignacio, Kutz and Lybrook processing plants and the Milagro and Esperanza natural gas treating plants, all serving the San Juan basin in New Mexico and Colorado;</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>A gathering system, natural gas liquids pipeline and the Willow Creek and Parachute processing plants in Colorado;</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>An equity interest in Laurel Mountain Midstream, LLC, serving the Marcellus shale region of western Pennsylvania;</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Gathering pipelines and compressor stations in the Appalachian basin of Pennsylvania;</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Onshore and offshore natural gas and oil gathering pipelines in the Gulf Coast region;</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>The Mobile Bay and Markham processing plants in the Gulf Coast region;</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>The Canyon Station and Devils Tower offshore production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico;</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Four Gulf of Mexico deepwater crude oil pipelines;</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>NGL storage facilities in the Conway, Kansas area;</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>Interests in two NGL fractionation facilities: one near Conway, Kansas and the other in Baton Rouge, Louisiana;</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>An equity interest in Discovery Producer Services LLC, whose assets include a processing plant and a fractionation plant in Louisiana, and an offshore natural gas gathering and transportation system in the Gulf of Mexico;</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>An equity interest in Aux Sable Liquid Products LP, whose assets include a processing plant and a fractionator in Illinois;</td> </tr> </table> </div> <div style="margin-top: 6pt"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left"> <tr valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent"> <td width="2%" style="background: transparent"> </td> <td width="3%" nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>•</b></td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td>An equity interest in Overland Pass Pipeline Company LLC, whose assets include a natural gas liquids pipeline stretching from Wyoming through Colorado and into Kansas.</td> </tr> </table> </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"> </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged NotefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringDescription containing the entire organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure. 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