LONG-TERM DEBT (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of long-term debt

Long-term debt consists of the following at the dates indicated (in thousands):

	December 31,
	2015			2014
5.125% Notes due July 1, 2017 (1)	$	125,000		$	125,000
6.050% Notes due January 15, 2018 (1)	300,000			300,000
2.650% Notes due November 15, 2018 (1)	400,000			400,000
5.500% Notes due August 15, 2019 (1)	275,000			275,000
4.875% Notes due February 1, 2021 (1)	650,000			650,000
4.150% Notes due July 1, 2023 (1)	500,000			500,000
4.350% Notes due October 15, 2024 (1)	300,000			300,000
6.750% Notes due August 15, 2033 (1)	150,000			150,000
5.850% Notes due November 15, 2043 (1)	400,000			400,000
5.600% Notes due October 15, 2044 (1)	300,000			300,000
Credit Facility due September 30, 2020	472,488			166,000
Unamortized discounts and debt issuance costs	(28,176		)	(31,382		)
Total debt	3,844,312			3,534,618
Less: Current portion of line of credit (2)	(111,488		)	(166,000		)
Total long-term debt	$	3,732,824		$	3,368,618

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(1) We make semi-annual interest payments on these notes based on the rates noted above with the principal balances outstanding to be paid on or before the due dates as shown above.

(2) The line of credit is classified as a current liability in our consolidated balance sheets as related funds are used to finance the Buckeye Merchant Service Companies’ current working capital needs.

Scheduled maturities of principal amounts of debt obligations

The following table presents the scheduled maturities of principal amounts of our debt obligations for the next five years and in total thereafter (in thousands):

	Years Ending
	December 31,
2016	$	111,488
2017	125,000
2018	700,000
2019	275,000
2020	361,000
Thereafter	2,300,000
Total	$	3,872,488