Hedging Activities and Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Hedging Activities and Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]

Hedging Activities and Fair Value Measurements

Note 13.  Hedging Activities and Fair Value Measurements

In the normal course of our business operations, we are exposed to certain risks, including changes in interest rates and commodity prices.  In order to manage risks associated with assets, liabilities and certain anticipated future transactions, we use derivative instruments such as futures, forward contracts, swaps, options and other instruments with similar characteristics.  Substantially all of our derivatives are used for non-trading activities.

Interest Rate Hedging Activities

We may utilize interest rate swaps, forward-starting swaps, options to enter into forward-starting swaps (“swaptions”), and similar derivative instruments to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates charged on borrowings under certain consolidated debt agreements.  This strategy may be used in controlling our overall cost of capital associated with such borrowings.

Treasury Locks

A treasury lock is an agreement that fixes the price (or yield) of a specified U.S. treasury security for an established period of time.  We use treasury lock agreements to hedge our exposure to interest rate changes and to reduce the volatility of financing costs on an expected future debt issuance.  During the fourth quarter of 2023, we entered into three treasury lock transactions to fix the ten-year treasury rate at a weighted-average rate of approximately 4.48% on an aggregate notional amount of $600 million.  In January 2024, we entered into two additional treasury lock transactions to fix the ten-year treasury rate at 3.97% on a notional amount of $400 million and to fix the three-year treasury rate at 4.11% on a notional amount of $750 million.  The purpose of these transactions was to hedge the underlying interest rate risk associated with debt issuances that occurred in January 2024 (see Note 7).  In January 2024, we terminated all of the treasury lock transactions simultaneously with our issuance of the three-year and ten-year notes and made total cash payments of $29 million.  As cash flow hedges, losses on these derivative instruments are reflected as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and will be amortized to earnings as a component of interest expense over the full term of each issuance.

Commodity Hedging Activities

The prices of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil, petrochemicals and refined products, and power are subject to fluctuations in response to changes in supply and demand, market conditions and a variety of additional factors that are beyond our control.  In order to manage such price risks, we enter into commodity derivative instruments such as physical forward contracts, futures contracts, fixed-for-float swaps and basis swaps.

At March 31, 2024, our predominant commodity hedging strategies consisted of (i) hedging anticipated future purchases and sales of commodity products associated with transportation, storage and blending activities, (ii) hedging natural gas processing margins, (iii) hedging the fair value of commodity products held in inventory and (iv) hedging anticipated future purchases of power for certain operations in Southeast Texas.  

• The objective of our anticipated future commodity purchases and sales hedging program is to hedge the margins of certain transportation, storage, blending and operational activities by locking in purchase and sale prices through the use of derivative instruments and related contracts.

• The objective of our natural gas processing hedging program is to hedge an amount of earnings associated with these activities. We achieve this objective by executing fixed-price sales for a portion of our expected equity production using derivative instruments and related contracts. For certain natural gas processing contracts, the hedging of expected equity NGL production also involves the purchase of natural gas for plant thermal reduction, which is hedged using derivative instruments and related contracts.

• The objective of our inventory hedging program is to hedge the fair value of commodity products currently held in inventory by locking in the sales price of the inventory through the use of derivative instruments and related contracts.

• The objective of our commercial energy hedging program is to hedge anticipated future purchases of power for certain operations in Southeast Texas by locking in purchase prices through the use of derivative instruments and related contracts.

The following table summarizes our portfolio of commodity derivative instruments outstanding at March 31, 2024 (volume measures as noted):

	Volume (1)		Accounting
Derivative Purpose	Current (2)	Long-Term (2)	Treatment
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:
Natural gas processing:
Forecasted natural gas purchases for plant thermal reduction (billion cubic feet (“Bcf”))	13.5	n/a	Cash flow hedge
Forecasted sales of natural gas (Bcf)	31.3	14.0	Cash flow hedge
Forecasted sales of NGLs (MMBbls)	6.9	n/a	Cash flow hedge
Octane enhancement:
Forecasted sales of octane enhancement products (MMBbls)	4.1	1.5	Cash flow hedge
Natural gas marketing:
Natural gas storage inventory management activities (Bcf)	1.3	n/a	Fair value hedge
NGL marketing:
Forecasted purchases of NGLs and related hydrocarbon products (MMBbls)	90.7	4.5	Cash flow hedge
Forecasted sales of NGLs and related hydrocarbon products (MMBbls)	76.8	10.4	Cash flow hedge
Refined products marketing:
Forecasted purchases of refined products (MMBbls)	1.5	n/a	Cash flow hedge
Forecasted sales of refined products (MMBbls)	2.2	n/a	Cash flow hedge
Crude oil marketing:
Forecasted purchases of crude oil (MMBbls)	22.9	0.6	Cash flow hedge
Forecasted sales of crude oil (MMBbls)	36.1	3.5	Cash flow hedge
Petrochemical marketing:
Forecasted sales of petrochemical products (MMBbls)	0.5	n/a	Cash flow hedge
Commercial energy:
Forecasted purchases of power related to asset operations (terawatt hours (“TWh”))	1.5	1.1	Cash flow hedge
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Natural gas risk management activities (Bcf) (3)	33.0	1.6	Mark-to-market
NGL risk management activities (MMBbls) (3)	9.3	4.5	Mark-to-market
Refined products risk management activities (MMBbls) (3)	4.7	n/a	Mark-to-market
Crude oil risk management activities (MMBbls) (3)	96.3	18.9	Mark-to-market
Petrochemical risk management activities (MMBbls) (3)	0.1	n/a	Mark-to-market

(1)	Volume for derivatives designated as hedging instruments reflects the total amount of volumes hedged whereas volume for derivatives not designated as hedging instruments reflects the absolute value of derivative notional volumes.
(2)	The maximum term for derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, derivatives designated as fair value hedges and derivatives not designated as hedging instruments is December 2026, December 2024 and December 2026, respectively.
(3)	Reflects the use of derivative instruments to manage risks associated with our transportation, processing and storage assets.

The carrying amount of our inventories subject to fair value hedges was $2 million at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Tabular Presentation of Fair Value Amounts, and Gains and Losses on

  Derivative Instruments and Related Hedged Items

The following table provides a balance sheet overview of our derivative assets and liabilities at the dates indicated:

	Asset Derivatives						Liability Derivatives
	March 31, 2024			December 31, 2023			March 31, 2024			December 31, 2023
	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Interest derivatives	Current assets	$	–	Current assets	$	–	Current liabilities	$	–	Current liabilities	$	31
Commodity derivatives	Current assets	$	151	Current assets	$	118	Current liabilities	$	159	Current liabilities	$	136
Commodity derivatives	Other assets		37	Other assets		31	Other liabilities		31	Other liabilities		35
Total commodity derivatives			188			149			190			171
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments		$	188		$	149		$	190		$	202
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
Commodity derivatives	Current assets	$	172	Current assets	$	229	Current liabilities	$	173	Current liabilities	$	229
Commodity derivatives	Other assets		22	Other assets		72	Other liabilities		21	Other liabilities		71
Total commodity derivatives			194			301			194			300
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		$	194		$	301		$	194		$	300

Certain of our commodity derivative instruments are subject to master netting arrangements or similar agreements.  The following tables present our derivative instruments subject to such arrangements at the dates indicated:

	Offsetting of Financial Assets and Derivative Assets
	Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets			Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheet			Amounts of Assets Presented in the Balance Sheet			Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Balance Sheet										Amounts That Would Have Been Presented On Net Basis
										Financial Instruments				Cash Collateral Received			Cash Collateral Paid
	(i)			(ii)			(iii) = (i) – (ii)			(iv)										(v) = (iii) + (iv)
As of March 31, 2024:
Commodity derivatives		$	382		$	–		$	382		$	(381	)		$	–		$	–		$	1
As of December 31, 2023:
Commodity derivatives		$	450		$	–		$	450		$	(450	)		$	–		$	–		$	–

	Offsetting of Financial Liabilities and Derivative Liabilities
	Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities			Gross Amounts Offset in the Balance Sheet			Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Balance Sheet			Gross Amounts Not Offset in the Balance Sheet										Amounts That Would Have Been Presented On Net Basis
										Financial Instruments				Cash Collateral Received			Cash Collateral Paid
	(i)			(ii)			(iii) = (i) – (ii)			(iv)										(v) = (iii) + (iv)
As of March 31, 2024:
Commodity derivatives		$	384		$	–		$	384		$	(381	)	$	(3	)	$	–			$	–
As of December 31, 2023:
Interest rate derivatives		$	31		$	–		$	31		$	–		$	–		$	–			$	31
Commodity derivatives			471			–			471			(450	)		1			(21	)			1

Derivative assets and liabilities recorded on our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets are presented on a gross-basis and determined at the individual transaction level.  The tabular presentation above provides a means for comparing the gross amount of derivative assets and liabilities, excluding associated accounts payable and receivable, to the net amount that would likely be receivable or payable under a default scenario based on the existence of rights of offset in the respective derivative agreements.  Any cash collateral paid or received is reflected in these tables, but only to the extent that it represents variation margins.  Any amounts associated with derivative prepayments or initial margins that are not influenced by the derivative asset or liability amounts or those that are determined solely on their volumetric notional amounts are excluded from these tables.

The following tables present the effect of our derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges on our Unaudited Condensed Statements of Consolidated Operations for the periods indicated:

Derivatives in Fair Value Hedging Relationships	Location	Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative
		For the Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024		2023
Commodity derivatives	Revenue	$	1	$	4
Total		$	1	$	4

Derivatives in Fair Value Hedging Relationships	Location	Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Hedged Item
		For the Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024		2023
Commodity derivatives	Revenue	$	4	$	(1	)
Total		$	4	$	(1	)

The gain (loss) corresponding to the hedge ineffectiveness on the fair value hedges was negligible for all periods presented. The remaining gain (loss) for each period presented is primarily attributable to prompt-to-forward month price differentials that were excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

The following tables present the effect of our derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges on our Unaudited Condensed Statements of Consolidated Operations and Unaudited Condensed Statements of Consolidated Comprehensive Income for the periods indicated:

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	Change in Value Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) on Derivative
	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2024			2023
Interest rate derivatives	$	2		$	(5	)
Commodity derivatives – Revenue (1)		(149	)		(65	)
Commodity derivatives – Operating costs and expenses (1)		(13	)		(24	)
Total	$	(160	)	$	(94	)

(1) The fair value of these derivative instruments will be reclassified to their respective locations on the Unaudited Condensed Statement of Consolidated Operations when the forecasted transactions affect earnings.

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	Location	Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) to Income
		For the Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024			2023
Interest rate derivatives	Interest expense	$	2		$	(2	)
Commodity derivatives	Revenue		19			24
Commodity derivatives	Operating costs and expenses		(17	)		8
Total		$	4		$	30

Over the next twelve months, we expect to reclassify $6 million of gains attributable to interest rate derivative instruments from accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings as a decrease in interest expense.  Likewise, we expect to reclassify $7 million of net losses attributable to commodity derivative instruments from accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings, with $1 million as a decrease in revenue and $6 million as an increase in operating costs and expenses.

The following table presents the effect of our derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments on our Unaudited Condensed Statements of Consolidated Operations for the periods indicated:

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	Location	Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative
		For the Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024			2023
Commodity derivatives	Revenue	$	13		$	200
Commodity derivatives	Operating costs and expenses		(1	)		–
Total		$	12		$	200

The $12 million net gain recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2024 (as noted in the preceding table) from derivatives not designated as hedging instruments consists of $18 million of net realized gains and $6 million of net unrealized mark-to-market losses attributable to commodity derivatives.

Fair Value Measurements

The following tables set forth, by level within the Level 1, 2 and 3 fair value hierarchy, the carrying values of our financial assets and liabilities at the dates indicated.  These assets and liabilities are measured on a recurring basis and are classified based on the lowest level of input used to estimate their fair value.  Our assessment of the relative significance of such inputs requires judgment.

The values for commodity derivatives are presented before and after the application of CME Rule 814, which deems that financial instruments cleared by the CME are settled daily in connection with variation margin payments.  As a result of this exchange rule, CME-related derivatives are considered to have no fair value at the balance sheet date for financial reporting purposes; however, the derivatives remain outstanding and subject to future commodity price fluctuations until they are settled in accordance with their contractual terms.  Derivative transactions cleared on exchanges other than the CME (e.g., the Intercontinental Exchange or ICE) continue to be reported on a gross basis.

	At March 31, 2024 Fair Value Measurements Using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1)			Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
Financial assets:
Commodity derivatives:
Value before application of CME Rule 814	$	283		$	345		$	–	$	628
Impact of CME Rule 814		(89	)		(157	)		–		(246	)
Total commodity derivatives		194			188			–		382
Total	$	194		$	188		$	–	$	382
Financial liabilities:
Commodity derivatives:
Value before application of CME Rule 814	$	383		$	297		$	–	$	680
Impact of CME Rule 814		(170	)		(126	)		–		(296	)
Total commodity derivatives		213			171			–		384
Total	$	213		$	171		$	–	$	384

	At December 31, 2023 Fair Value Measurements Using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets and Liabilities (Level 1)			Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
Financial assets:
Commodity derivatives:
Value before application of CME Rule 814	$	431		$	297		$	–	$	728
Impact of CME Rule 814		(147	)		(131	)		–		(278	)
Total commodity derivatives		284			166			–		450
Total	$	284		$	166		$	–	$	450
Financial liabilities:
Interest rate derivatives:	$	–		$	31		$	–	$	31
Commodity derivatives:
Value before application of CME Rule 814		317			308			–		625
Impact of CME Rule 814		(22	)		(132	)		–		(154	)
Total commodity derivatives		295			176			–		471
Total	$	295		$	207		$	–	$	502

In the aggregate, the fair value of our commodity hedging portfolios at March 31, 2024 was a net derivative liability of $52 million prior to the impact of CME Rule 814.

Financial assets and liabilities recorded on the balance sheet at March 31, 2024 using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) are not material to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Other Fair Value Information

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash balances), accounts receivable, commercial paper notes and accounts payable approximate their fair values based on their short-term nature.  The estimated total fair value of our fixed-rate debt obligations was $27.2 billion and $26.7 billion at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.  The aggregate carrying value of these debt obligations was $29.1 billion and $28.0 billion at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.  These values are primarily based on quoted market prices for such debt or debt of similar terms and maturities (Level 2) and our credit standing.  Changes in market rates of interest affect the fair value of our fixed-rate debt.  The carrying values of our variable-rate long-term debt obligations approximate their fair values since the associated interest rates are market-based.  We do not have any long-term investments in debt or equity securities recorded at fair value.