Contingencies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Contingencies

Note 8—Contingencies

From time to time, lawsuits involving a variety of claims that arise in the ordinary course of business are filed against us. We also may be required to remove or mitigate the effects on the environment of the placement, storage, disposal or release of certain chemical, mineral and petroleum substances at various sites. We regularly assess the need for accounting recognition or disclosure of these contingencies. In the case of all known contingencies (other than those related to income taxes), we accrue a liability when the loss is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable. If a range of amounts can be reasonably estimated and no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, then the minimum of the range is accrued. We do not reduce these liabilities for potential insurance or third-party recoveries. If applicable, we accrue receivables for probable insurance or other third-party recoveries. In the case of income-tax-related contingencies, we use a cumulative probability-weighted loss accrual in cases where sustaining a tax position is less than certain.

Based on currently available information, we believe it is remote that future costs related to known contingent liability exposures will exceed current accruals by an amount that would have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial statements. As we learn new facts concerning contingencies, we reassess our position both with respect to accrued liabilities and other potential exposures. Estimates particularly sensitive to future changes include any contingent liabilities recorded for environmental remediation, tax and legal matters. Estimated future environmental remediation costs are subject to change due to such factors as the uncertain magnitude of cleanup costs, the unknown time and extent of such remedial actions that may be required, and the determination of our liability in proportion to that of other potentially responsible parties. Estimated future costs related to tax and legal matters are subject to change as events evolve and as additional information becomes available during the administrative and litigation processes.

Environmental

We are subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. We record accruals for contingent environmental liabilities based on management’s best estimates, using all information that is available at the time. We measure estimates and base liabilities on currently available facts, existing technology, and presently enacted laws and regulations, taking into account stakeholder and business considerations. When measuring environmental liabilities, we also consider our prior experience in remediation of contaminated sites, other companies’ cleanup experience, and data released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or other organizations. We consider unasserted claims in our determination of environmental liabilities, and we accrue them in the period they are both probable and reasonably estimable.

In the future, we may be involved in additional environmental assessments, cleanups and proceedings.

Legal Proceedings

Under our amended omnibus agreement, Phillips 66 provides certain services for our benefit, including legal support services, and we pay an operational and administrative support fee for these services. Phillips 66’s legal organization applies its knowledge, experience and professional judgment to the specific characteristics of our cases, employing a litigation management process to manage and monitor the legal proceedings against us. The process facilitates the early evaluation and quantification of potential exposures in individual cases and enables tracking of those cases that have been scheduled for trial and/or mediation. Based on professional judgment and experience in using these litigation management tools and available information about current developments in all our cases, Phillips 66’s legal organization regularly assesses the adequacy of current accruals and determines if adjustment of existing accruals, or establishment of new accruals, is required. As of September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, we did not have any material accrued contingent liabilities associated with litigation matters.

Indemnification and Excluded Liabilities

Under our amended omnibus agreement and pursuant to the terms of various agreements under which we acquired assets from Phillips 66, Phillips 66 will indemnify us, or assume responsibility, for certain environmental liabilities, tax liabilities, litigation and any other liabilities attributable to the ownership or operation of the assets contributed to us and that arose prior to the effective date of each acquisition. These indemnifications and exclusions from liability have, in some cases, time limits and deductibles. When Phillips 66 performs under any of these indemnifications or exclusions from liability, we recognize noncash expenses and associated noncash capital contributions from our General Partner, as these are considered liabilities paid for by a principal unitholder.