2.2.0.7 false Unit-Based Compensation Plans 0215 - Disclosure - Unit-Based Compensation Plans true false false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 EPU Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 units Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Unit Based Compensation Plans [Abstract] 0 bpl_UnitBasedCompensationPlansAbstract bpl false na duration Unit-Based Compensation Plans. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Unit-Based Compensation Plans. false 3 UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS 1 bpl_UnitBasedCompensationPlansTextBlock bpl false na duration Unit-Based Compensation Plans. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 15. UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS<div style="text-align:center;"> </div>We award unit-based compensation to employees and directors primarily under the 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan of Buckeye Partners, L.P. (the “LTIP”), which became effective in March 2009. We formerly awarded options to acquire LP Units to employees pursuant to the Buckeye Partners, L.P. Unit Option and Distribution Equivalent Plan (the “Option Plan”). We recognized total unit-based compensation expense of $1.3 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $3.8 million and $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Long-Term Incentive Plan  The LTIP provides for the issuance of up to 1,500,000 LP Units, subject to certain adjustments.  After giving effect to the issuance or forfeiture of phantom unit and performance unit awards through September 30, 2010, awards representing a total of 1,116,268 additional LP Units could be issued under the LTIP. On December 16, 2009, the Compensation Committee approved the terms of the Buckeye Partners, L.P. Unit Deferral and Incentive Plan (“Deferral Plan”). The Compensation Committee is expressly authorized to adopt the Deferral Plan under the terms of the LTIP, which grants the Compensation Committee the authority to establish a program pursuant to which our phantom units may be awarded in lieu of cash compensation at the election of the employee. At December 31, 2009, eligible employees were allowed to defer up to 50% of their 2009 compensation award under our Annual Incentive Compensation Plan or other discretionary bonus program in exchange for grants of phantom units equal in value to the amount of their cash award deferral (each such unit, a “Deferral Unit”). Participants also receive one matching phantom unit for each Deferral Unit. Approximately $1.8 million of 2009 compensation awards had been deferred at December 31, 2009, for which 62,332 phantom units (including matching units) were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2010. These grants are included as granted in the LTIP activity table below.  Awards under the LTIP During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Compensation Committee granted 123,669 phantom units to employees (including the 62,332 phantom units granted pursuant to the Deferral Plan discussed above), 12,000 phantom units to independent directors of Buckeye GP and MainLine Management, and 122,683 performance units to employees. The amount paid with respect to phantom unit distribution equivalents under the LTIP was $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  The following table sets forth the LTIP activity for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands): <div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;margin-top:20px;"><tr style="height: 16px"><td style="width: 61px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:61px;"> </td><td style="width: 244px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:244px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td colspan="2" style="width: 94px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:94px;">Weighted</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> </td></tr><tr style="height: 16px"><td style="width: 61px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:61px;"> </td><td style="width: 244px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:244px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td colspan="2" style="width: 94px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:94px;">Average</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> </td></tr><tr style="height: 16px"><td style="width: 61px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:61px;"> </td><td style="width: 244px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:244px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td colspan="2" style="width: 94px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:94px;">Grant Date</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> </td></tr><tr style="height: 16px"><td style="width: 61px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:61px;"> </td><td style="width: 244px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:244px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;">Number of</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td colspan="2" style="width: 94px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:94px;">Fair Value</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> </td></tr><tr style="height: 16px"><td style="width: 61px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:61px;"> </td><td style="width: 244px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:244px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;">LP Units</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td colspan="2" style="width: 94px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:94px;">per LP Unit (1)</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td colspan="2" style="width: 94px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:94px;">Total Value</td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="width: 61px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:61px;"> </td><td style="width: 244px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:244px;">Unvested at January 1, 2010</td><td style="width: 82px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> 140,095</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;">$</td><td style="width: 82px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;">39.81</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;">$</td><td style="width: 82px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> 5,577</td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="width: 61px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:61px;"> </td><td style="width: 244px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:244px;">Granted </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> 258,352</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;">56.22</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> 14,525</td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="width: 61px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:61px;"> </td><td style="width: 244px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:244px;">Vested</td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> (18,518)</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;">39.18</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> (725)</td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="width: 61px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:61px;"> </td><td style="width: 244px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:244px;">Forfeited</td><td style="width: 82px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> (15,234)</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;">49.44</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> (753)</td></tr><tr style="height: 18px"><td style="width: 61px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:61px;"> </td><td style="width: 244px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:244px;">Unvested at September 30, 2010</td><td style="width: 82px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> 364,695</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;">$</td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;">51.07</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;">$</td><td style="width: 82px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> 18,624</td></tr></table></div>       <ul><li style="margin-left:27px;list-style:decimal;">Determined by dividing the aggregate grant date fair value of awards by the number of awards issued. The weighted-average grant date fair value per LP Unit for forfeited and vested awards is determined before an allowance for forfeitures.</li></ul>At September 30, 2010, approximately $10.8 million of compensation expense related to the LTIP is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.9 years. Unit Option and Distribution Equivalent Plan The following is a summary of the changes in the LP Unit options outstanding (all of which are vested or are expected to vest) under the Option Plan for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):<div><table style="border-collapse:collapse;margin-top:20px;"><tr style="height: 16px"><td style="width: 224px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:224px;"> </td><td style="width: 75px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 96px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:96px;">Weighted-</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 75px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> </td></tr><tr style="height: 16px"><td style="width: 224px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:224px;"> </td><td style="width: 75px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td colspan="2" style="width: 94px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:94px;">Weighted-</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 96px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:96px;">Average</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 75px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> </td></tr><tr style="height: 16px"><td style="width: 224px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:224px;"> </td><td style="width: 75px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td colspan="2" style="width: 94px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:94px;">Average</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 96px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:96px;">Remaining</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td colspan="2" style="width: 87px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:87px;">Aggregate</td></tr><tr style="height: 16px"><td style="width: 224px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:224px;"> </td><td style="width: 75px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;">Number of</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td colspan="2" style="width: 94px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:94px;">Strike Price</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 96px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:96px;">Contractual</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td colspan="2" style="width: 87px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:87px;">Intrinsic</td></tr><tr style="height: 16px"><td style="width: 224px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:224px;"> </td><td style="width: 75px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;">LP Units</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td colspan="2" style="width: 94px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:94px;">($/LP Unit)</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 96px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:96px;">Term (in years)</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td colspan="2" style="width: 87px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:87px;">Value (1)</td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="width: 224px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:224px;">Outstanding at January 1, 2010</td><td style="width: 75px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> 349,400</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;">$</td><td style="width: 82px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;">46.25</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 96px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:96px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 75px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> </td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="width: 224px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:224px;"> Exercised</td><td style="width: 75px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> (96,500)</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;">44.32</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 96px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:96px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 75px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> </td></tr><tr style="height: 17px"><td style="width: 224px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:224px;"> Forfeited</td><td style="width: 75px; border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-width:1px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> (6,000)</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;">49.47</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 96px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:96px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 75px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> </td></tr><tr style="height: 18px"><td style="width: 224px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:224px;">Outstanding at September 30, 2010</td><td style="width: 75px; border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:1px;border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> 246,900</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;">46.88</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 96px; border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:96px;"> 6.0</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;">$</td><td style="width: 75px; border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> 4,103</td></tr><tr style="height: 11px"><td style="width: 224px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:224px;"> </td><td style="width: 75px; border-top-style:double;border-top-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 96px; border-top-style:double;border-top-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:96px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; border-top-style:double;border-top-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 75px; border-top-style:double;border-top-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> </td></tr><tr style="height: 18px"><td style="width: 224px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:224px;">Exercisable at September 30, 2010</td><td style="width: 75px; border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> 150,200</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:center;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;">$</td><td style="width: 82px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:82px;">45.82</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:left;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 96px; border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:96px;"> 5.0</td><td style="width: 12px; text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;"> </td><td style="width: 12px; border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:12px;">$</td><td style="width: 75px; border-bottom-style:double;border-bottom-width:3px;text-align:right;border-color:#000000;min-width:75px;"> 2,655</td></tr></table></div>___________<ul><li style="margin-left:36px;list-style:decimal;">Aggregate intrinsic value reflects fully vested LP Unit options at the date indicated. Intrinsic value is determined by calculating the difference between our closing LP Unit price on the last trading day in September 2010 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of exercisable, in-the-money options. </li></ul>The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 was $1.5 million and $0.3 million, respectively. At September 30, 2010, total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested LP Unit options was $0.1 million. We expect to recognize this cost over a weighted average period of 0.4 years. At September 30, 2010, 333,000 LP Units were available for grant in connection with the Option Plan. However, with the adoption of the LTIP, we do not expect to make any future grants pursuant to the Option Plan. The fair value of options vested was $0.4 million and $0.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. 15. UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS We award unit-based compensation to employees and directors primarily under the 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan of false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock Unit-Based Compensation Plans. No authoritative reference available. false 1 2 false UnKnown UnKnown UnKnown false true