SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Presentation and Consolidation. We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). These principles are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB"). We make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates, including fair value measurements, the reported amounts of revenue and expense, and the disclosure of contingencies. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from its estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents include temporary cash investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable. Accounts receivable relate to gathering and other services provided to our customers and other counterparties. We evaluate the collectability of accounts receivable and the need for an allowance for doubtful accounts based on customer-specific facts and circumstances. To the extent we doubt the collectability of a specific customer or counterparty receivable, we recognize an allowance for doubtful accounts.

Other Current Assets

Other Current Assets. Other current assets primarily consist of the current portion of prepaid expenses that are charged to expense over the period of benefit or the life of the related contract.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant, and Equipment. We record property, plant, and equipment at historical cost of construction or fair value of the assets at acquisition. We capitalize expenditures that extend the useful life of an asset or enhance its productivity or efficiency from its original design over the expected remaining period of use. For maintenance and repairs that do not add capacity or extend the useful life of an asset, we recognize expenditures as an expense as incurred. We capitalize project costs incurred during construction, including interest on funds borrowed to finance the construction of facilities, as construction in progress.

We record depreciation on a straight-line basis over an asset’s estimated useful life. We base our estimates for useful life on various factors including age (in the case of acquired assets), manufacturing specifications, technological advances and historical data concerning useful lives of similar assets. Estimates of useful lives follow.



	Useful lives (In years)
Gathering and processing systems and related equipment	30
Other	4-15

Construction in progress is depreciated consistent with its applicable asset class once it is placed in service. Land and line fill are not depreciated.

We base an asset’s carrying value on estimates, assumptions and judgments for useful life and salvage value. Upon sale, retirement or other disposal, we remove the carrying value of an asset and its accumulated depreciation from our balance sheet and recognize the related gain or loss, if any.

Accrued capital expenditures are reflected in trade accounts payable.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset Retirement Obligations. We record a liability for asset retirement obligations only if and when a future asset retirement obligation with a determinable life is identified. For identified asset retirement obligations, we then evaluate whether the expected date and related costs of retirement can be estimated. We have concluded that our gathering and processing assets have an indeterminate life because they are owned and will operate for an indeterminate period when properly maintained. Because we did not have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the amount or timing of such obligations and we have no current plan to discontinue use of any significant assets, we did not provide for any asset retirement obligations as of December 31, 2015 or 2014.

Amortizing Intangibles

Amortizing Intangibles. Upon the acquisition of DFW Midstream, certain of its gas gathering contracts were deemed to have above-market pricing structures while another was deemed to have pricing that was below market. We have recognized the above-market contracts as favorable gas gathering contracts. We have recognized the below-market contract as the unfavorable gas gathering contract and included it in other noncurrent liabilities. We amortize these contracts on a units-of-production basis over the contract's estimated useful life. We define useful life as the period over which the contract is expected to contribute to our future cash flows. These contracts have original terms ranging from 10 years to 20 years. We recognize the amortization expense associated with these contracts in other revenues.

We amortize all other gas gathering contracts, or contract intangibles, over the period of economic benefit based upon expected revenues over the life of the contract. The useful life of these contracts ranges from 10 years to 25 years. We recognize the amortization expense associated with these contracts in depreciation and amortization expense.

We have rights-of-way associated with city easements and easements granted within existing rights-of-way. We amortize these intangible assets over the shorter of the contractual term of the rights-of-way or the estimated useful life of the gathering system. The contractual terms of the rights-of-way range from 20 years to 30 years. We recognize the amortization expense associated with rights-of-way assets in depreciation and amortization expense.

Goodwill

Goodwill. Goodwill represents consideration paid in excess of the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired in a business combination. We evaluate goodwill for impairment annually on September 30. We also evaluate goodwill whenever events or circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount.

We test goodwill for impairment using a two-step quantitative test. In the first step, we compare the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. To estimate the fair value of the reporting units under step one, we utilize two valuation methodologies: the market approach and the income approach. Both of these approaches incorporate significant estimates and assumptions to calculate enterprise fair value for a reporting unit. The most significant estimates and assumptions inherent within these two valuation methodologies are: (i) determination of the weighted-average cost of capital; (ii) the selection of guideline public companies; (iii) market multiples; (iv) weighting of the income and market approaches; (v) growth rates; (vi) commodity prices; and (vi) the expected levels of throughput volume gathered. Changes in these and other assumptions could materially affect the estimated amount of fair value for any of our reporting units.

If the reporting unit’s fair value exceeds its carrying amount, we conclude that the goodwill of the reporting unit has not been impaired and no further work is performed.

If we determine that the reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, we proceed to step two. In step two, we compare the carrying value of the reporting unit to its implied fair value. Significant estimates and assumptions utilized in the determination of a reporting unit's implied fair value are based on a variety of factors specific to a given reporting unit's individual assets and liabilities as well as market and industry considerations. If we determine that the carrying amount of a reporting unit's goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, we recognize the excess of the carrying value over the implied fair value as an impairment loss.

Equity Method Investments

Equity Method Investments. We account for investments in which we exercise significant influence using the equity method so long as we (i) do not control the investee and (ii) are not the primary beneficiary. We recognize these investments in investment in equity method investees in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. We recognize our proportionate share of earnings or loss in net income on a one-month lag.

We recognize an other-than-temporary impairment for losses in the value of equity method investees when evidence indicates that the carrying amount is no longer supportable. Evidence of a loss in value might include, but would not necessarily be limited to, absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or inability of the equity method investee to sustain an earnings capacity that would justify the carrying amount of the investment. A current fair value of an investment that is less than its carrying amount may indicate a loss in value of the investment. We evaluate our equity method investments whenever evidence exists that would indicate a need to assess the investment for potential impairment.

Other Noncurrent Assets

Other Noncurrent Assets. Other noncurrent assets primarily consist of external costs incurred in connection with the closing of our revolving credit facility and related amendments. We capitalize and then amortize these deferred loan costs over the life of the revolving credit facility. We recognize amortization of deferred loan costs in interest expense.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. We test assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset (except goodwill) is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. If we conclude that an asset's carrying value will not be recovered through future cash flows, we recognize an impairment loss on the long-lived asset equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds its fair value. We determine fair value using either a market-based approach or an income-based approach. We discuss our policy for goodwill impairment above.

Derivative Contracts

Derivative Contracts. We have commodity price exposure related to our sale of the physical natural gas we retain from our DFW Midstream customers and our procurement of electricity to operate DFW Midstream's electric-drive compression assets. Our gas gathering agreements with our DFW Midstream customers permit us to retain a certain quantity of natural gas that we gather to offset the power costs we incur to operate these electric-drive compression assets. We manage this direct exposure to natural gas and power prices through the use of forward power purchase contracts with wholesale power providers that require us to purchase a fixed quantity of power at a fixed heat rate based on prevailing natural gas prices based on the Waha Hub Index. Because we also sell our retainage gas at prices that are based on the Waha Hub Index, we have effectively fixed the relationship between our compression electricity expense and natural gas retainage sales.

Accounting standards related to derivative instruments and hedging activities allow for normal purchase or sale elections and hedge accounting designations, which generally eliminate or defer the requirement for mark-to-market recognition in net income and thus reduce the volatility of net income that can result from fluctuations in fair values. We have designated these contracts as normal under the normal purchase and sale exception under the accounting standards for derivatives. We do not enter into risk management contracts for speculative purposes.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments. The fair-value-measurement standard under GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The standard characterizes inputs used in determining fair value according to a hierarchy that prioritizes those inputs based upon the degree to which the inputs are observable. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:


•	Level 1. Inputs represent quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

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Level 2. Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly (for example, quoted market prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets not considered to be active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability, or market-corroborated inputs); and


•	Level 3. Inputs that are not observable from objective sources, such as management’s internally developed assumptions used in pricing an asset or liability (for example, an internally developed present value of future cash flows model that underlies management's fair value measurement).

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies. We record accruals for loss contingencies when we determine that it is probable that a liability has been incurred and that such economic loss can be reasonably estimated. Such determinations are subject to interpretations of current facts and circumstances, forecasts of future events, and estimates of the financial impacts of such events.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition. We generate the majority of our revenue from the gathering, treating and processing services that we provide to our customers. We also generate revenue from our marketing of natural gas, NGLs and condensate. We realize revenues by receiving fees from our customers or by selling the residue natural gas, NGLs and condensate.

We recognize revenue earned from fee-based gathering, treating and processing services in gathering services and related fees revenue. We also earn revenue from the sale of physical natural gas purchased from our customers under percentage-of-proceeds arrangements. These revenues are recognized in natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales with corresponding expense recognition for the producer's share of the proceeds in cost of natural gas and NGLs. We sell substantially all of the natural gas that we retain from our DFW Midstream customers to offset the power expenses of the electric-driven compression on the DFW Midstream system. We also sell condensate retained from our gathering services at Grand River. Revenues from the retainage of natural gas and condensate are recognized in natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales; the associated expense is included in operation and maintenance expense. Certain customers reimburse us for costs we incur on their behalf. We record costs incurred and reimbursed by our customers on a gross basis, with the revenue component recognized in other revenues.

We recognize revenue when all of the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an exchange arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the price is fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

We provide gathering and/or processing services principally under contracts that contain one or more of the following arrangements:


•	Fee-based arrangements. Under fee-based arrangements, we receive a fee or fees for one or more of the following services (i) natural gas gathering, treating, and/or processing and (ii) crude oil and/or produced water gathering.

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Percent-of-proceeds arrangements. Under percent-of-proceeds arrangements, we generally purchase natural gas from producers at the wellhead, or other receipt points, gather the wellhead natural gas through our gathering system, treat the natural gas, process the natural gas and/or sell the natural gas to a third party for processing. We then remit to our producers an agreed-upon percentage of the actual proceeds received from sales of the residue natural gas and NGLs. Certain of these arrangements may also result in returning all or a portion of the residue natural gas and/or the NGLs to the producer, in lieu of returning sales proceeds. The margins earned are directly related to the volume of natural gas that flows through the system and the price at which we are able to sell the residue natural gas and NGLs.

Certain of our gathering and processing agreements provide for a monthly, quarterly or annual minimum volume commitment ("MVC"). Under these MVCs, our customers agree to ship and/or process a minimum volume of production on our gathering systems or to pay a minimum monetary amount over certain periods during the term of the MVC. A customer must make a shortfall payment to us at the end of the contracted measurement period if its actual throughput volumes are less than its MVC for that period. Certain customers are entitled to utilize shortfall payments to offset gathering fees in one or more subsequent contracted measurement periods to the extent that such customer's throughput volumes in a subsequent contracted measurement period exceed its MVC for that contracted measurement period.

We recognize customer billings for obligations under their MVCs as revenue when the obligations are billable under the contract and the customer does not have the right to utilize shortfall payments to offset gathering or processing fees in excess of its MVCs in subsequent periods.

We record customer billings for obligations under their MVCs as deferred revenue when the customer has the right to utilize shortfall payments to offset gathering or processing fees in subsequent periods. We recognize deferred revenue under these arrangements in revenue once all contingencies or potential performance obligations associated with the related volumes have either (i) been satisfied through the gathering or processing of future excess volume throughput, or (ii) expired (or lapsed) through the passage of time pursuant to the terms of the applicable gathering or processing agreement. We also recognize deferred revenue when it is determined that a given amount of MVC shortfall payments cannot be recovered by offsetting gathering or processing fees in subsequent contracted measurement periods. In making this determination, we consider both quantitative and qualitative facts and circumstances, including, but not limited to, contract terms, capacity of the associated pipeline or receipt point and/or expectations regarding future investment, drilling and production.

We classify deferred revenue as a current liability for arrangements where the expiration of a customer's right to utilize shortfall payments is 12 months or less. We classify deferred revenue as noncurrent for arrangements where the expiration of the right to utilize shortfall payments and our estimate of its potential utilization is more than 12 months.

Unit-Based Compensation

Unit-Based Compensation. For awards of unit-based compensation, we determine a grant date fair value and recognize the related compensation expense in the statement of operations over the vesting period of the respective awards.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes. As a partnership, we are generally not subject to federal and state income taxes, except as noted below. However, our unitholders are individually responsible for paying federal and state income taxes on their share of our taxable income. Net income or loss for GAAP purposes may differ significantly from taxable income reportable to our unitholders as a result of differences between the tax basis and the GAAP basis of assets and liabilities and the taxable income allocation requirements under our partnership agreement.

In general, legal entities that are chartered, organized or conducting business in the state of Texas are subject to a franchise tax (the "Texas Margin Tax"). The Texas Margin Tax has the characteristics of an income tax because it is determined by applying a tax rate to a tax base that considers both revenues and expenses. Our financial statements reflect provisions for these tax obligations.

In 2014, we elected to apply changes to the determination of cost of goods sold for the Texas Margin Tax which permits the use of accelerated depreciation allowed for federal income tax purposes.

Earnings Per Unit

Earnings or Loss Per Unit ("EPU"). We determine basic EPU by dividing the net income or loss that is attributed, in accordance with the net income and loss allocation provisions of our partnership agreement, to limited partners under the two-class method, after deducting (i) any net income or loss of contributed subsidiaries that is attributable to Summit Investments, (ii) the general partner's 2% interest in net income or loss and (iii) any payment of IDRs, by the weighted-average number of limited partner units outstanding. Diluted EPU reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other agreements to issue common units, such as unit-based compensation, were exercised, settled or converted into common units and included in the weighted-average number of units outstanding. When it is determined that potential common units resulting from an award subject to performance or market conditions should be included in the diluted EPU calculation, the impact is reflected by applying the treasury stock method.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive Income or Loss. Comprehensive income or loss is the same as net income or loss for all periods presented.

Environmental Matters

Environmental Matters. We are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. Liabilities for loss contingencies, including environmental remediation costs, arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, and penalties and other sources are charged to expense when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment and/or remediation can be reasonably estimated. We accrue for losses associated with environmental remediation obligations when such losses are probable and reasonably estimable. Such accruals are adjusted as further information develops or circumstances change. Recoveries of environmental remediation costs from other parties or insurers are recorded as assets when their receipt is deemed probable.

Transactions under Common Control

Carve-Out Entities, Assets, Liabilities and Expenses. For drop down transactions involving entities that were carved out of other entities, the majority of the assets and liabilities allocated to the carve-out entity are specifically identified based on the original entity's existing divisional organization. Goodwill is allocated to the carve-out entity based on initial purchase accounting estimates. Revenues and depreciation and amortization are specifically identified based on the relationship of the carve-out entity to the original entity's existing divisional structure. Operation and maintenance and general and administrative expenses are allocated to the carve-out entity based on volume throughput.

For drop down transactions involving assets, liabilities and expenses that were carved out of other entities, the majority of the assets and liabilities allocated to the carve-out are specifically identified based on the original entity's existing divisional organization. Depreciation and amortization are specifically identified based on the relationship of the carve-out entity to the original entity's existing divisional structure. General and administrative expenses are allocated to the carve-out entity based on an allocation of Summit Investments' consolidated expenses.

Allocation of Certain Liabilities in Drop Downs. For drop down transactions involving assets for which their development was funded with debt incurred by SMP or its affiliates which was replaced with bank borrowings or debt capital at the Partnership, we allocate a portion of that debt, net of deferred loan costs, to the drop down assets during the common control period. Interest expense is allocated and recognized during the common control period. Any outstanding debt balance or principal is included in the calculation of the excess or deficit of acquired carrying value relative to consideration paid and recognized.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements. Accounting standard setters frequently issue new or revised accounting rules. We review new pronouncements to determine the impact, if any, on our financial statements. There are currently no recent pronouncements that have been issued that we believe may materially affect our financial statements, except as noted below.

In May 2014, the FASB released a joint revenue recognition standard, ASU No. 2014-09 Revenue From Contracts With Customers (Topic 606) ("ASU 2014-09"). Under ASU 2014-09, revenue will be recognized under a five-step model: (i) identify the contract with the customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to performance obligations; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies a performance obligation. In its original form, ASU 2014-09 was effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016; early adoption was not permitted. In July 2015, the FASB reaffirmed the guidance in its April 2015 proposed ASU that defers for one year the effective date of the ASU 2014-09 for both public and nonpublic entities reporting under U.S. GAAP and allows early adoption as of the original effective date. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of this update.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03. Under ASU 2015-03, entities that have historically presented debt issuance costs as an asset, related to a recognized debt liability, will be required to present those costs as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability. This presentation will result in debt issuance cost being presented the same way debt discounts have historically been handled. In August 2015, the FASB amended ASU 2015-03 to address the presentation and subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs related to line of credit (“LOC”) arrangements. The amendment added a paragraph that states that the SEC staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of a LOC arrangement, regardless of whether there are outstanding borrowings under that LOC arrangement. This new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim and annual periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this update has resulted in a reclassification from other noncurrent assets to long-term debt of the debt issuance costs associated with our senior notes. Debt issuance costs associated with our revolving credit facility will remain in other noncurrent assets. This ASU had no impact on interest expense, net income or loss, EPU or partners' capital.

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-16 Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments (“ASU 2015-16”). Under ASU 2015-16, an acquirer would be required to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. Further, the acquirer must record in the financial statements for the same period, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. Entities must also present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. This new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim and annual periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently in the process of evaluating the impact of this update.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01 Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“ASU 2016-01”). Among other changes, the amendments in ASU 2016-01 supersede the guidance to classify equity securities with readily determinable fair values into different categories and require equity securities to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income. They also simplify the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values and require use of the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes. Under ASU 2016-01, an entity will be required to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments, to separately present financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset. ASU 2016-01 also clarifies that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. This new standard is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 31, 2017. Early adoption is permissible, but limited in application. The adoption of this new update could impact the fair value we disclose for certain financial instruments but is not expected to impact amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements.