ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PRESENTATION AND CONSOLIDATION	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PRESENTATION AND CONSOLIDATION	1. ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PRESENTATION AND CONSOLIDATION Organization. Summit Midstream Partners, LP (including its subsidiaries, collectively “SMLP” or the “Partnership”) is a Delaware limited partnership that was formed in May 2012 and began operations in October 2012. SMLP is a value-oriented limited partnership focused on developing, owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets that are strategically located in unconventional resource basins, primarily shale formations, in the continental United States. The Partnership’s business activities are conducted through various operating subsidiaries, each of which is owned or controlled by its wholly owned subsidiary holding company, Summit Holdings, a Delaware limited liability company. GP Buy-In Transaction. On May 28, 2020, the Partnership closed the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated May 3, 2020, with affiliates of its sponsor at that time, Energy Capital Partners II, LLC (“ECP”), to acquire Summit Investments, the parent company of the General Partner. The acquisition of Summit Investments resulted in the Partnership acquiring (a) 2.3 million SMLP common units (34.6 million SMLP common units prior to the Partnership’s 1-for-15 reverse unit split of its common units, effective November 9, 2020 (the “Reverse Unit Split”)) that were pledged as collateral under the SMPH Term Loan, (b) 0.7 million SMLP common units (10.7 million SMLP common units prior to the Reverse Unit Split) that were not pledged as collateral under the SMPH Term Loan and (c) a deferred purchase price obligation receivable owed by the Partnership. In addition, the Partnership acquired 0.4 million SMLP common units held by an affiliate of ECP. The total purchase price was $35.0 million in cash and warrants giving ECP the right to purchase up to 0.7 million SMLP common units (10.0 million SMLP common units prior to the Reverse Unit Split) (refer to Note 9 – Partners’ Capital and Mezzanine Capital for additional details). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Partnership assumed the liabilities stemming from the release of produced water from a produced water pipeline operated by Meadowlark Midstream, a subsidiary of the Partnership, that occurred near Williston, North Dakota and was discovered on January 6, 2015. These transactions are collectively referred to as the “GP Buy-In Transaction.” As a result of the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership indirectly owns its General Partner. Following the closing of the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership retired 1.1 million SMLP common units (16.6 million common units prior to the Reverse Unit Split) it acquired that were not pledged as collateral under the SMPH Term Loan. On November 17, 2020, the Partnership issued the 2.3 million SMLP common units (34.6 million common units prior to the Reverse Unit Split) that were pledged as collateral under the SMPH Term Loan as partial consideration for a consensual debt discharge and restructuring (the “TL Restructuring”) of its SMP Holdings’ $155.2 million term loan (“SMPH Term Loan”). SMP Holdings is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Summit Investments. Under GAAP, the GP Buy-In Transaction was deemed a transaction among entities under common control with a change in reporting entity. Although SMLP is the surviving entity for legal purposes, Summit Investments is the surviving entity for accounting purposes; therefore, the historical financial results included herein, prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction are those of Summit Investments. Prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction, Summit Investments controlled SMLP and SMLP’s financial statements were consolidated into Summit Investments. Business Operations. The Partnership provides natural gas gathering, compression, treating and processing services as well as crude oil and produced water gathering services pursuant to primarily long-term, fee-based agreements with its customers. The Partnership’s results are primarily driven by the volumes of natural gas that it gathers, compresses, treats and/or processes as well as by the volumes of crude oil and produced water that it gathers. Other than the Partnership’s investments in Double E and Ohio Gathering, all of its business activities are conducted through wholly owned operating subsidiaries. Presentation and Consolidation. The Partnership prepares its condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP as established by the FASB and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC pertaining to interim financial information. The condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this report include all normal and recurring material adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented herein. The Partnership makes 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 revenues and expenses and the disclosure of commitments and contingencies. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from its estimates. The condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this report include the assets, liabilities and results of operations of SMLP and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions among the consolidated entities have been eliminated in consolidation. Comprehensive income or loss is the same as net income or loss for all periods presented. Risks and Uncertainties. The Partnership is closely monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of its business, including how it has impacted and will impact its customers, employees, supply chain and distribution network. The Partnership is unable to predict the ultimate impact that COVID-19 may have on its business, future results of operations, financial position or cash flows. Given the dynamic nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and related market conditions, the Partnership cannot reasonably estimate the period of time that these events will persist or the full extent of the impact they will have on its business. The full extent to which the Partnership’s operations may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic will depend largely on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be accurately predicted, including changes in the severity of the pandemic, countermeasures taken by governments, businesses and individuals to slow the spread of the pandemic, and the development and availability of treatments and vaccines and the extent to which these treatments and vaccines may remain effective as potential new strains of the coronavirus emerge. Furthermore, the impacts of a potential worsening of global economic conditions and the continued disruptions to and volatility in the financial markets remain unknown.

ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PRESENTATION AND CONSOLIDATION

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PRESENTATION AND CONSOLIDATION

1. ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PRESENTATION AND CONSOLIDATION

Organization. Summit Midstream Partners, LP (including its subsidiaries, collectively “SMLP” or the “Partnership”) is a Delaware limited partnership that was formed in May 2012 and began operations in October 2012. SMLP is a value-oriented limited partnership focused on developing, owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets that are strategically located in unconventional resource basins, primarily shale formations, in the continental United States. The Partnership’s business activities are conducted through various operating subsidiaries, each of which is owned or controlled by its wholly owned subsidiary holding company, Summit Holdings, a Delaware limited liability company.

GP Buy-In Transaction. On May 28, 2020, the Partnership closed the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated May 3, 2020, with affiliates of its sponsor at that time, Energy Capital Partners II, LLC (“ECP”), to acquire Summit Investments, the parent company of the General Partner. The acquisition of Summit Investments resulted in the Partnership acquiring (a) 2.3 million SMLP common units (34.6 million SMLP common units prior to the Partnership’s 1-for-15 reverse unit split of its common units, effective November 9, 2020 (the “Reverse Unit Split”)) that were pledged as collateral under the SMPH Term Loan, (b) 0.7 million SMLP common units (10.7 million SMLP common units prior to the Reverse Unit Split) that were not pledged as collateral under the SMPH Term Loan and (c) a deferred purchase price obligation receivable owed by the Partnership. In addition, the Partnership acquired 0.4 million SMLP common units held by an affiliate of ECP. The total purchase price was $35.0 million in cash and warrants giving ECP the right to purchase up to 0.7 million SMLP common units (10.0 million SMLP common units prior to the Reverse Unit Split) (refer to Note 9 – Partners’ Capital and Mezzanine Capital for additional details). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Partnership assumed the liabilities stemming from the release of produced water from a produced water pipeline operated by Meadowlark Midstream, a subsidiary of the Partnership, that occurred near Williston, North Dakota and was discovered on January 6, 2015. These transactions are collectively referred to as the “GP Buy-In Transaction.”

As a result of the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership indirectly owns its General Partner. Following the closing of the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership retired 1.1 million SMLP common units (16.6 million common units prior to the Reverse Unit Split) it acquired that were not pledged as collateral under the SMPH Term Loan. On November 17, 2020, the Partnership issued the 2.3 million SMLP common units (34.6 million common units prior to the Reverse Unit Split) that were pledged as collateral under the SMPH Term Loan as partial consideration for a consensual debt discharge and restructuring (the “TL Restructuring”) of its SMP Holdings’ $155.2 million term loan (“SMPH Term Loan”). SMP Holdings is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Summit Investments.

Under GAAP, the GP Buy-In Transaction was deemed a transaction among entities under common control with a change in reporting entity. Although SMLP is the surviving entity for legal purposes, Summit Investments is the surviving entity for accounting purposes; therefore, the historical financial results included herein, prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction are those of Summit Investments. Prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction, Summit Investments controlled SMLP and SMLP’s financial statements were consolidated into Summit Investments.

Business Operations. The Partnership provides natural gas gathering, compression, treating and processing services as well as crude oil and produced water gathering services pursuant to primarily long-term, fee-based agreements with its customers. The Partnership’s results are primarily driven by the volumes of natural gas that it gathers, compresses, treats and/or processes as well as by the volumes of crude oil and produced water that it gathers. Other than the Partnership’s investments in Double E and Ohio Gathering, all of its business activities are conducted through wholly owned operating subsidiaries.

Presentation and Consolidation. The Partnership prepares its condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP as established by the FASB and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC pertaining to interim financial information. The condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this report include all normal and recurring material adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods presented herein. The Partnership makes 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 revenues and expenses and the disclosure of commitments and contingencies. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from its estimates.

The condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this report include the assets, liabilities and results of operations of SMLP and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions among the consolidated entities have been eliminated in consolidation. Comprehensive income or loss is the same as net income or loss for all periods presented.

Risks and Uncertainties. The Partnership is closely monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on all aspects of its business, including how it has impacted and will impact its customers, employees, supply chain and distribution network. The Partnership is unable to predict the ultimate impact that COVID-19 may have on its business, future results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Given the dynamic nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and related market conditions, the Partnership cannot reasonably estimate the period of time that these events will persist or the full extent of the impact they will have on its business. The full extent to which the Partnership’s operations may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic will depend largely on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be accurately predicted, including changes in the severity of the pandemic, countermeasures taken by governments, businesses and individuals to slow the spread of the pandemic, and the development and availability of treatments and vaccines and the extent to which these treatments and vaccines may remain effective as potential new strains of the coronavirus emerge. Furthermore, the impacts of a potential worsening of global economic conditions and the continued disruptions to and volatility in the financial markets remain unknown.