Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

• Consolidation Principles and Investments—Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of majority-owned, controlled subsidiaries and variable interest entities (VIEs) where we are the primary beneficiary. Undivided interests in pipelines, natural gas plants and terminals are consolidated on a proportionate basis. See Note 27—Phillips 66 Partners LP, for further discussion on our significant consolidated VIE.

The equity method is used to account for investments in affiliates in which we have the ability to exert significant influence over the affiliates’ operating and financial policies, including VIEs, of which we are not the primary beneficiary. Other securities and investments are generally carried at fair value, or cost less impairments, if any, adjusted up or down for price changes in similar financial instruments issued by the investee, when and if observed. See Note 7—Investments, Loans and Long-Term Receivables, for further discussion on our significant nonconsolidated VIEs.

• Recast Financial Information—Certain prior period financial information has been recast to reflect the current year’s presentation.

• Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

• Foreign Currency Translation—Adjustments resulting from the process of translating financial statements with foreign functional currencies into U.S. dollars are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in stockholders’ equity. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses result from remeasuring monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency into the functional currency of our subsidiary holding the asset or liability. We include these transaction gains and losses in current earnings. Most of our foreign operations use their local currency as the functional currency.

• Cash Equivalents—Cash equivalents are highly liquid, short-term investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and will mature within 90 days or less from the date of acquisition. We carry these investments at cost plus accrued interest.

• Inventories—We have several valuation methods for our various types of inventories and consistently use the following methods for each type of inventory. Crude oil and petroleum products inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market in the aggregate, primarily on the last-in, first-out (LIFO) basis. Any necessary lower-of-cost-or-market write-downs at year end are recorded as permanent adjustments to the LIFO cost basis. LIFO is used to better match current inventory costs with current revenues and to meet tax-conformity requirements. Costs include both direct and indirect expenditures incurred in bringing an item or product to its existing condition and location. Materials and supplies inventories are valued using the weighted-average-cost method.

• Fair Value Measurements—We categorize assets and liabilities measured at fair value into one of three different levels depending on the observability of the inputs employed in the measurement. Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, through market-corroborated inputs. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability that are used to measure fair value to the extent that relevant observable inputs are not available, and that reflect the assumptions we believe market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability for which there is little, if any, market activity at the measurement date.

• Derivative Instruments—Derivative instruments are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value. We have master netting agreements with our exchange-cleared instrument counterparties and certain of our counterparties to other commodity instrument contracts (e.g., physical commodity forward contracts). We have elected to net derivative assets and liabilities with the same counterparty on the balance sheet if the legal right of offset exists and certain other criteria are met. We also net collateral payables and receivables against derivative assets and derivative liabilities, respectively.

Recognition and classification of the gain or loss that results from recording and adjusting a derivative to fair value depends on the purpose for issuing or holding the derivative. All realized and unrealized gains and losses from derivative instruments for which we do not apply hedge accounting are immediately recognized in our consolidated statement of income. Unrealized gains or losses from derivative instruments that qualify for and are designated as cash flow hedges are recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) and appear on the balance sheet in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged transactions are recognized in earnings. However, to the extent the change in the fair value of a derivative instrument exceeds the change in the anticipated cash flows of the hedged transaction, the excess gain or loss is recognized immediately in earnings.

• Loans and Long-Term Receivables—We enter into agreements with other parties to pursue business opportunities, which may require us to provide loans or advances to certain affiliated and nonaffiliated companies. Loans are recorded when cash is transferred or seller financing is provided to the affiliated or nonaffiliated company pursuant to a loan agreement. The loan balance will increase as interest is earned on the outstanding loan balance and will decrease as interest and principal payments are received. Interest is earned at the loan agreement’s stated interest rate. Loans and long-term receivables are evaluated for impairment based on an expected credit loss assessment.

• Impairment of Investments in Nonconsolidated Entities—Investments in nonconsolidated entities accounted for under the equity method are assessed for impairment whenever changes in the facts and circumstances indicate a loss in value has occurred. When indicators exist, the fair value is estimated and compared to the investment carrying value. If any impairment is judgmentally determined to be other than temporary, the carrying value of the investment is written down to fair value. The fair value of the impaired investment is determined based on quoted market prices, if available, or upon the present value of expected future cash flows using discount rates and other assumptions believed to be consistent with those used by principal market participants and observed market earnings multiples of comparable companies.

• Depreciation and Amortization—Depreciation and amortization of properties, plants and equipment (PP&E) are determined by either the individual-unit-straight-line method or the group-straight-line method (for those individual units that are highly integrated with other units).

• Capitalized Interest—A portion of interest from external borrowings is capitalized on major projects with an expected construction period of one year or longer. Capitalized interest is added to the cost of the related asset, and is amortized over the useful life of the related asset.

• Impairment of Properties, Plants and Equipment—PP&E used in operations are assessed for impairment whenever changes in facts and circumstances indicate a possible significant deterioration in the future cash flows expected to be generated by an asset group. If indicators of potential impairment exist, an undiscounted cash flow test is performed. If the sum of the undiscounted expected future pre-tax cash flows of an asset group is less than the carrying value of the asset group, including applicable liabilities, the carrying value of the PP&E included in the asset group is written down to estimated fair value and the write down is reported in the “Impairments” line item on our consolidated statement of income in the period in which the impairment determination is made. Individual assets are grouped for impairment purposes at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are available (for example, at a refinery complex level). Because there is usually a lack of quoted market prices for long-lived assets, the fair value of impaired assets is typically determined using one or more of the following methods: the present values of expected future cash flows using discount rates and other assumptions believed to be consistent with those used by principal market participants; a market multiple of earnings for similar assets; or historical market transactions including similar assets, adjusted using principal market participant assumptions when necessary. Long-lived assets held for sale are accounted for at the lower of amortized cost or fair value, less cost to sell, with fair value determined using a binding negotiated price, if available, estimated replacement cost, or present value of expected future cash flows as previously described.

The expected future cash flows used for impairment reviews and related fair value calculations are based on estimated future volumes, prices, costs, margins and capital project decisions, considering all available evidence at the date of review.

• Property Dispositions—When complete units of depreciable property are sold, the asset cost and related accumulated depreciation are eliminated, with any gain or loss reflected in the “Net gain (loss) on dispositions” line item on our consolidated statement of income. When less than complete units of depreciable property are disposed of or retired, the difference between asset cost and salvage value is charged or credited to accumulated depreciation.

• Goodwill—Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested for impairment annually and when events or changes in circumstance indicate that the fair value of a reporting unit with goodwill is below its carrying value. The impairment test requires allocating goodwill and other assets and liabilities to reporting units. The fair value of each reporting unit is determined and compared to the book value of the reporting unit. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the book value, an impairment is recognized for the amount by which the book value exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. A goodwill loss cannot exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. For purposes of testing goodwill for impairment, we have three reporting units with goodwill balances: Transportation, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties.

• Intangible Assets Other Than Goodwill—Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized using the straight-line method over their useful lives. Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized, but are tested at least annually for impairment. Each reporting period, we evaluate intangible assets with indefinite useful lives to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support this classification. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are considered impaired if their fair value is lower than their net book value. The fair value of intangible assets is determined based on quoted market prices in active markets, if available. If quoted market prices are not available, the fair value of intangible assets is determined based upon the present values of expected future cash flows using discount rates and other assumptions believed to be consistent with those used by principal market participants, or upon estimated replacement cost, if expected future cash flows from the intangible asset are not determinable.

• Asset Retirement Obligations and Environmental Costs—The fair values of legal obligations to retire and remove long-lived assets are recorded in the period in which the obligations arise. When the liabilities are initially recorded, we capitalize these costs by increasing the carrying amount of the related PP&E. Over time, the liabilities are increased for the change in present value, and the capitalized costs in PP&E are depreciated over the useful life of the related assets. If our estimate of the liability changes after initial recognition, we record an adjustment to the liabilities and PP&E.

Environmental expenditures are expensed or capitalized, depending upon their future economic benefit. Expenditures relating to an existing condition caused by past operations, and those having no future economic benefit, are expensed. When environmental assessments or cleanups are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated, environmental expenditures are accrued on an undiscounted basis (unless acquired in a business combination). Recoveries of environmental remediation costs from other parties, such as state reimbursement funds, are recorded as a reduction to environmental expenditures.

• Guarantees—The fair value of a guarantee is determined and recorded as a liability at the time the guarantee is given. The initial liability is subsequently reduced as we are released from exposure under the guarantee. We amortize the guarantee liability over the relevant time period, if one exists, based on the facts and circumstances surrounding each type of guarantee. We amortize the guarantee liability to the related income statement line item based on the nature of the guarantee. In cases where the guarantee term is indefinite, we reverse the liability when we have information to support the reversal. When the performance on the guarantee becomes probable and the liability can be reasonably estimated, we accrue a separate liability for the excess amount above the guarantee’s book value based on the facts and circumstances at that time. We reverse the fair value liability only when there is no further exposure under the guarantee.

• Treasury Stock—We record treasury stock purchases at cost, which includes incremental direct transaction costs. Amounts are recorded as reductions of stockholders’ equity on the consolidated balance sheet.

• Revenue Recognition—Our revenues are primarily associated with sales of refined petroleum products, crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGL). Each gallon, or other unit of measure of product, is separately identifiable and represents a distinct performance obligation to which a transaction price is allocated. The transaction prices of our contracts with customers are either fixed or variable, with variable pricing based upon various market indices. For our contracts that include variable consideration, we utilize the variable consideration allocation exception, whereby the variable consideration is only allocated to the performance obligations that are satisfied during the period. The related revenue is recognized at a point in time when control passes to the customer, which is when title and the risk of ownership passes to the customer and physical delivery of goods occurs, either immediately or within a fixed delivery schedule that is reasonable and customary in the industry. The payment terms with our customers vary based on the product or service provided, but usually are 30 days or less.

Revenues associated with pipeline transportation services are recognized at a point in time when the volumes are delivered based on contractual rates. Revenues associated with terminaling and storage services are recognized over time as the services are performed based on throughput volume or capacity utilization at contractual rates.

Revenues associated with transactions commonly called buy/sell contracts, in which the purchase and sale of inventory with the same counterparty are entered into in contemplation of one another, are combined and reported in the “Purchased crude oil and products” line item on our consolidated statement of income (i.e., these transactions are recorded net).

• Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities—Effective for reporting periods ending after our adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” on January 1, 2018, excise taxes on sales of refined petroleum products charged to our customers are presented net of taxes on sales of refined petroleum products payable to governmental authorities in the “Taxes other than income taxes” line item on our consolidated statement of income. For reporting periods ending prior to January 1, 2018, excise taxes on sales of refined petroleum products charged to our customers are presented in the “Sales and other operating revenues” line item on our consolidated statement of income, and excise taxes on sales of refined petroleum products payable to governmental authorities are presented in the “Taxes other than income taxes” line item on our consolidated statement of income.

Other sales and value-added taxes are recorded net in the “Taxes other than income taxes” line item on our consolidated statement of income.

• Shipping and Handling Costs—We have elected to account for shipping and handling costs as fulfillment activities and include these activities in the “Purchased crude oil and products” line item on our consolidated statement of income. Freight costs billed to customers are recorded in “Sales and other operating revenues.”

• Maintenance and Repairs—Costs of maintenance and repairs, which are not significant improvements, are expensed when incurred. Major refinery maintenance turnarounds are expensed as incurred.

• Share-Based Compensation—We recognize share-based compensation expense over the shorter of: (1) the service period (i.e., the stated period of time required to earn the award); or (2) the period beginning at the start of the service period and ending when an employee first becomes eligible for retirement, but not less than six months as this is the minimum period of time required for an award not to be subject to forfeiture. Our equity-classified programs generally provide accelerated vesting (i.e., a waiver of the remaining period of service required to earn an award) for awards held by employees at the time they become eligible for retirement (at age 55 with 5 years of service). We have elected to recognize expense on a straight-line basis over the service period for the entire award, irrespective of whether the award was granted with ratable or cliff vesting, and have elected to recognize forfeitures of awards when they occur.

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Income Taxes—Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Interest related to unrecognized income tax benefits is reflected in interest expense, and penalties in operating expenses or selling, general and administrative expenses.