XML 19 R7.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.7.0.1
Equity Method Investments
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]  
EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS
EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS

Our equity method investments consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
White Cliffs Pipeline, L.L.C.
$
279,333

 
$
281,734

Glass Mountain Pipeline, LLC
134,120

 
133,622

NGL Energy Partners LP
18,936

 
18,933

Total equity method investments
$
432,389

 
$
434,289


    
Our earnings from equity method investments consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
White Cliffs Pipeline, L.L.C.
$
15,193

 
$
19,780

Glass Mountain Pipeline, LLC
1,895

 
1,059

NGL Energy Partners LP
3

 
2,232

Total earnings from equity method investments
$
17,091

 
$
23,071


Cash distributions received from equity method investments consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
White Cliffs Pipeline, L.L.C.
$
18,190

 
$
24,098

Glass Mountain Pipeline, LLC
3,503

 
2,815

NGL Energy Partners LP

 
4,873

Total cash distributions received from equity method investments
$
21,693

 
$
31,786


White Cliffs Pipeline, L.L.C.
Certain unaudited summarized income statement information of White Cliffs Pipeline, L.L.C. ("White Cliffs") for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, is shown below (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Revenue
$
50,184

 
$
58,056

Cost of products sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below
$
4,113

 
$
250

Operating, general and administrative expenses
$
6,240

 
$
9,602

Depreciation and amortization expense
$
9,256

 
$
8,963

Net income
$
30,575

 
$
39,247


The equity in earnings of White Cliffs for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, is less than 51% of the net income of White Cliffs for the same periods. This is due to certain general and administrative expenses we incur in managing the operations of White Cliffs that the other owners are not obligated to share. In addition, our equity in earnings is also impacted by the elimination of earnings on commodity sales with White Cliffs. Revenue related to inventory transactions with White Cliffs is deferred until a sale of the inventory has been made with a third party.
Glass Mountain Pipeline, LLC
We own a 50% interest in Glass Mountain Pipeline, LLC ("Glass Mountain"), which we account for under the equity method. The excess of the recorded amount of our investment over the book value of our share of the underlying net assets represents equity method goodwill and capitalized interest at March 31, 2017. Capitalized interest is amortized as a reduction of earnings from equity method investments.
Certain unaudited summarized income statement information of Glass Mountain for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, is shown below (in thousands):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2017
 
2016
Revenue
$
11,692

 
$
8,572

Cost of products sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below
$
1,898

 
$
565

Operating, general and administrative expenses
$
1,915

 
$
1,845

Depreciation and amortization expense
$
3,982

 
$
3,936

Net income
$
3,896

 
$
2,225


The equity in earnings of Glass Mountain for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, reported in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) is less than 50% of the net income of Glass Mountain for the same period due to amortization of capitalized interest for the period.
For the three months ended March 31, 2017, we contributed $2.1 million to Glass Mountain related to capital projects.
NGL Energy Partners LP
We own an 11.78% interest in the general partner of NGL Energy Partners LP (NYSE: NGL) ("NGL Energy") which is being accounted for under the equity method in accordance ASC 323-30-S99-1, as our ownership is in excess of the 3 to 5 percent interest which is generally considered to be more than minor. The general partner of NGL Energy is not a publicly traded company.
Our policy is to record our equity in earnings of NGL Energy on a one-quarter lag, as we do not expect information on the earnings of NGL Energy to always be available in time to consistently record the earnings in the quarter in which they are generated. Accordingly, the equity in earnings from NGL Energy, which is reflected in our condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, relates to the earnings of NGL Energy for the three months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
During the three months ended December 31, 2015, NGL issued common units which diluted our limited partnership interest. As we record activity on a one-quarter lag, we recognized a non-cash loss of $41.0 thousand associated with these issuances for the three months ended March 31, 2016.