Western Midstream(WES)2025-02-26 21:50Company Structure and Operations - Western Midstream Partners, LP owns a 98.0% limited partner interest in Western Midstream Operating, LP[27] - The company is engaged in gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas, as well as gathering and disposing of produced water[29] - The company’s operations are organized into a single segment that engages in gathering, compressing, treating, processing, and transporting natural gas, crude oil, and produced water[37] - The company’s assets include both owned assets and ownership interests accounted for under the equity method[28] - The company’s operations include the sale of natural gas, NGLs, and condensate on behalf of itself and its customers[29] Financial Position and Credit Facilities - The company has a 2.0 billion in effective borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility (RCF), providing liquidity for expansion and acquisition opportunities[47] - The company requires 0.87500 per unit, totaling 1.25 billion that ends on December 31, 2024[24] Acquisitions and Sales - The company sold its 15% interest in Cactus II Pipeline LLC in November 2022[24] - The company acquired Meritage Midstream Services II, LLC on October 13, 2023[24] - The acquisition of Meritage was completed in October 2023 for 600.0 million senior note issuance[42] - The company closed the sale of its 33.75% interest in the Marcellus Interest systems for proceeds of 63.9 million recorded in the consolidated statement of operations[40] - In the first quarter of 2024, the company sold equity investments including a 25.00% interest in Mont Belvieu JV for combined proceeds of 239.7 million[41] Revenue Sources and Customer Dependence - For the year ended December 31, 2024, 60% of total revenues were attributable to production owned or controlled by Occidental, highlighting the company's reliance on this key partner[51] - Occidental accounts for over 50% of the company's revenues related to natural gas, crude oil, NGLs, and produced water, with 60% of total revenues and 91% of throughput for crude oil and NGLs attributable to Occidental's production[146] - A material reduction in Occidental's production could lead to a significant decline in the company's revenues and cash available for distribution[146] - The company reported that 95% of its wellhead natural-gas volume and 100% of its crude-oil and produced-water throughput were serviced under fee-based contracts, providing a stable revenue stream[47] Growth and Expansion Plans - The company plans to enhance growth through systematic acquisition activity while controlling operating, capital, and administrative costs to maintain sustainable distribution growth[45] - The Mentone Train III processing plant was completed, adding 300 MMcf/d of processing capacity to the West Texas complex[61] - The North Loving Plant is under construction with a capacity of 250 MMcf/d, expected to be completed in Q1 2025, bringing total processing capacity of the West Texas complex to 2,190 MMcf/d[63] - Three oil-treating facilities were brought online, adding 45 MBbls/d of treating capacity to the DBM oil system[64] - Several produced-water disposal wells were added, increasing disposal capacity by 210 MBbls/d[65] Regulatory and Compliance Risks - Proposed revisions to pipeline safety regulations by PHMSA could increase compliance costs and operational delays for the company[105] - The company is subject to civil penalties for violations of CFTC and FTC regulations, which can exceed $1.0 million per day per violation[112] - The company’s natural-gas gathering operations may face increased costs and capital expenditures due to potential changes in state or federal regulations[113] - The company is required to comply with ratable-take and common-purchaser statutes, which prohibit discrimination among natural gas producers[114] - FERC's anti-manipulation rules apply to non-jurisdictional entities in connection with gas sales, purchases, or transportation subject to FERC jurisdiction[116] Environmental and Climate Change Regulations - The company has incurred and will continue to incur significant operating and capital expenditures to comply with environmental regulations, which may materially affect its financial condition and results of operations[126] - The EPA's new regulations for ground-level ozone standards could require the installation of new emission controls, significantly increasing capital expenditures and operating costs[127] - Colorado's Senate Bill 24-229 mandates a 50% reduction in oil and gas NO emissions by 2030 relative to 2017 levels, potentially increasing compliance costs for the company[128] - The U.S. aims to reduce net GHG emissions by 50% - 52% below 2005 levels by 2030, which may impose additional costs and affect demand for oil and gas[128] - Increased regulation related to climate change and air emissions could raise operating costs and reduce demand for the company's services, impacting financial performance[187] Operational Risks and Challenges - The company faces various risks, including commodity-price risks and regulatory changes, which could materially affect its financial performance and ability to pay distributions[140] - The company is exposed to credit risk from third-party customers, and non-payment could reduce its ability to make distributions to unitholders[166] - Sustained low prices for natural gas, NGLs, or oil could adversely affect the company's business and cash distributions[155] - The company faces inflationary pressures on costs for labor, materials, and services, which could negatively impact profitability[161] - The company's limited geographic diversification means that adverse developments in key operational areas could disproportionately affect its financial results and cash distributions to unitholders[171] Governance and Partnership Structure - The general partner's liability is limited, which may affect the company's ability to manage obligations and could reduce cash available for distribution to unitholders[204] - The company may issue additional units without unitholder approval, potentially diluting existing ownership interests and affecting market prices[209] - Unitholders may be liable to repay distributions if they were wrongfully distributed, with a three-year liability period for those aware of the violation[211] - The general partner has limited liability for decisions made in good faith, protecting them from monetary damages unless proven otherwise[212] - The partnership's taxation as a flow-through entity is crucial; any change in status could significantly reduce cash available for distribution[215]