SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Use of Estimates

Certain amounts included in or affecting the Partnership’s financial statements and related notes must be estimated by management, requiring certain assumptions to be made with respect to values or conditions that cannot be known with certainty at the time the financial statements are prepared. These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts the Partnership reports for assets and liabilities and the Partnership’s disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements.

Making accurate estimates and assumptions is particularly difficult as the oil and natural gas industry experiences challenges resulting from negative pricing pressure from the effects of COVID-19 and actions by OPEC members and other exporting nations affecting the supply and demand in global oil and natural gas markets. Many companies in the oil and natural gas industry have changed near term business plans in response to changing market conditions. The aforementioned circumstances generally increase the uncertainty in the Partnership’s accounting estimates, particularly those involving financial forecasts.

The Partnership evaluates these estimates on an ongoing basis, using historical experience, consultation with experts and other methods it considers reasonable in each particular circumstance. Nevertheless, actual results may differ significantly from the Partnership’s estimates. Any effects on the Partnership’s business, financial position or results of operations resulting from revisions to these estimates are recorded in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, (i) revenue accruals, (ii) the fair value of long-lived assets and (iii) asset retirement obligations (“ARO”).

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consist primarily of receivables from gathering services, sourced water and rental agreements. The customers and lessees remit payment for services performed and/or goods received directly to the Partnership. Most payments for gathering services, sourced water and rental agreements are received within two months after the date of service performed or goods delivered.

The Partnership adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13 and the subsequent applicable modifications to the rule on January 1, 2020. Accounts receivable are stated at amounts due from customers and lessees, net of an allowance for expected losses as estimated by the Partnership when collection is deemed doubtful. Accounts receivable outstanding longer than the contractual payment terms are considered past due. The Partnership determines its allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time accounts receivable are past due, the Partnership’s previous loss history, the debtor’s current ability to pay its obligation to the Partnership, the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole. The Partnership writes off specific accounts receivable when they become uncollectible, and payments subsequently received on such receivables are credited to the allowance for expected losses. As the adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not result in a material allowance, no cumulative-effect adjustment was made to beginning unitholders’ equity. At September 30, 2020, the Partnership recorded an immaterial allowance for expected losses and did not record an allowance for expected losses at December 31, 2019.

Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consist of the following as of the dates indicated:



	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019
	(In thousands)
Capital expenditures accrued	$	9,213	$	42,160
Direct operating expenses accrued	19,638		22,119
Sourced water purchases accrued	2,524		9,531
Interest expense accrued	5,866		627
Other	24		2,188
Total accrued liabilities	$	37,265	$	76,625

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The following table provides changes in the components of accumulated other comprehensive income, net of related income tax effects:


	(In thousands)
Balance as of December 31, 2019	$	(823)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(95)
Balance as of September 30, 2020	$	(918)

Non-controlling Interest

Non-controlling interest in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements represents Diamondback’s ownership in the net assets of the Operating Company. When Diamondback’s relative ownership interest in the Operating Company changes, adjustments to non-controlling interest and common unitholder’s equity, tax effected, will occur. If the changes in the Partnership’s ownership interest in the Operating Company do not result in a change of control, the transactions are accounted for as equity transactions under Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810, “Consolidation.” This guidance requires that any differences between the carrying value of the Partnership’s basis in the Operating Company and the fair value of the consideration received are recognized directly in equity and attributed to the controlling interest.

In the second quarter of 2020, the Partnership recorded an adjustment to non-controlling interest of $419.6 million, common unitholder equity of $(329.0) million, and deferred tax asset of $90.6 million to reflect the ownership structure that was effective at June 30, 2020. The adjustment had no impact on earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. See Note 10—Unitholders’ Equity and Partnership Distributions for a presentation of the change in ownership.

Income Taxes

The Partnership is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of its election to be treated as a corporation effective May 24, 2019. Subsequent to the effective date of the Partnership’s election, it has been subject to U.S. federal and state income tax at corporate rates. The Partnership uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences of (i) temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities and (ii) operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are based on enacted tax rates applicable to the future period when those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period the rate change is enacted. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The Partnership is subject to margin tax in the state of Texas pursuant to the tax sharing agreement with Diamondback. In addition to the Partnership’s 2019 tax year, the Predecessor’s 2016 through 2018 tax years, the periods during which the Predecessor’s sole owner, Diamondback, was responsible for federal income taxes on the Predecessor’s taxable income, remain open to examination by tax authorities. As of September 30, 2020, the Partnership had no unrecognized tax benefits that would have a material impact on the effective tax rate. The Partnership is continuing its practice of recognizing interest and penalties related to income tax matters as interest expense and general and administrative expenses, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, there was no interest or penalties associated with uncertain tax positions recognized in the Partnership’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Capital Contributions

For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, capital contributions from Diamondback to the Predecessor totaled $456.1 million, of which $228.3 million related to produced water disposal assets, $149.5 million related to the equity method investments in the EPIC and Gray Oak pipelines (defined below), $35.8 million related to crude oil assets, $31.1 million related to elimination of current and deferred liabilities, $18.1 million related to land, $9.4 million related to sourced water assets, $9.2 million related to an office building located in Midland Texas and $(25.3) million in additional assets and liabilities, net, related to operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Partnership considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or clarifications of ASUs previously disclosed. The following table provides a brief description of recent accounting pronouncements and the Partnership’s analysis of the effects on its financial statements:


Standard	Description	Date of Adoption	Effect on Financial Statements or Other Significant Matters
Recently Adopted Pronouncements
ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses”	This update affects entities holding financial assets and net investment in leases that are not accounted for at fair value through net income. The amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables, and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash.	Q1 2020	The Partnership adopted this update effective January 1, 2020. The adoption of this update did not have an impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity since it does not have a history of credit losses.




Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”	This update is intended to simplify the accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions and by clarifying and amending existing guidance.	Q1 2021	This update is effective for public business entities beginning after December 15, 2020 with early adoption permitted. The Partnership does not believe the adoption of this standard will have an impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity.