ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	NOTE 3 ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS Retrospective application of ASU No 2016-15 “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments” In August 2016, the FASB issued an amendment of previously issued guidance, which intends to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective January 1, 2018, however, as early adoption is permitted, the Partnership elected to retrospectively apply this guidance effective December 31, 2016. The Partnership has elected to classify distributions received from equity method investees using the nature of distributions approach as it is more representative of the nature of the underlying activities of the investees that generated the distributions. As a result, certain comparative period distributions received from equity method investees, amounting to $42 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016, have been reclassified from investing activities to cash generated from operations in the consolidated statement of cash flows. Effective January 1, 2017 Inventory In July 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on simplifying the measurement of inventory. The new guidance specifies that an entity should measure inventory within the scope of this update at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. This new guidance was effective January 1, 2017, and was applied prospectively and did not have a material impact on the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheet. Equity method and joint ventures In March 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that simplifies the transition to equity method accounting. The new guidance eliminates the requirement to retroactively apply the equity method of accounting when an increase in ownership interest in an investment qualifies for equity method accounting. The new guidance is effective January 1, 2017 and was applied prospectively. The application of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements. Consolidation In October 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on consolidation relating to interests held through related parties that are under common control. The new guidance amends the consolidation requirements such that if a decision maker is required to evaluate whether it is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entry (VIE), it will need to consider only its proportionate indirect interest in the VIE held through a common control party. The guidance was effective January 1, 2017, was applied retrospectively and did not result in any change to our consolidation conclusions. Future accounting changes Revenue from contracts with customers In 2014, the FASB issued new guidance on revenue from contracts with customers. The new guidance requires that an entity recognize revenue in accordance with a five-step model. This model is used to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the total consideration to which it expects to be entitled to during the term of the contract in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance also requires additional disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and the related cash flows. The Partnership will adopt the new standard on the effective date of January 1, 2018. There are two methods in which the new standard can be adopted: (1) a full retrospective approach with restatement of all prior periods presented, or (2) a modified retrospective approach with a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The Partnership currently anticipates adopting the standard using the modified retrospective approach with the cumulative-effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of adoption, subject to allowable and elected practical expedients. The Partnership has identified all existing customer contracts that are within the scope of the new guidance and is in the process of analyzing individual contracts or groups of contracts on a segmented basis to identify any significant changes in how revenues are recognized as a result of implementing the new standard. While the Partnership has not identified any material differences in the amount and timing of revenue recognition for the contracts that have been analyzed to date, the evaluation is not complete and the Partnership has not concluded on the overall impact of adopting the new guidance. The Partnership continues its segmented contract analysis to obtain the information necessary to quantify, the cumulative-effect adjustment, if any, on prior period revenues. The Partnership also continues to address any system and process changes necessary to compile the information to meet the recognition and disclosure requirements of the new guidance. Leases In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the accounting for leases. The new guidance amends the definition of a lease requiring the customer to have both (1) the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the asset and (2) the right to direct the use of the asset in order for the arrangement to qualify as a lease. The new guidance also establishes a right-of-use model (ROU) that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and corresponding lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement. The new guidance does not make extensive changes to lessor accounting. The new guidance is effective on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. The Partnership is continuing to identify and analyze existing lease agreements to determine the effect of adoption of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements. The Partnership is also addressing system and process changes necessary to compile the information to meet the recognition and disclosure requirements of the new guidance. Goodwill Impairment In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance on simplifying the test for goodwill impairment by eliminating the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure the impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value. This new guidance is effective January 1, 2020 and will be applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Partnership is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance and has not yet determined the effect on its consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 3 ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Retrospective application of ASU No 2016-15 “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments”

In August 2016, the FASB issued an amendment of previously issued guidance, which intends to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective January 1, 2018, however, as early adoption is permitted, the Partnership elected to retrospectively apply this guidance effective December 31, 2016. The Partnership has elected to classify distributions received from equity method investees using the nature of distributions approach as it is more representative of the nature of the underlying activities of the investees that generated the distributions. As a result, certain comparative period distributions received from equity method investees, amounting to $42 million for the six months ended June 30, 2016, have been reclassified from investing activities to cash generated from operations in the consolidated statement of cash flows.

Effective January 1, 2017

Inventory

In July 2015, the FASB issued new guidance on simplifying the measurement of inventory. The new guidance specifies that an entity should measure inventory within the scope of this update at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. This new guidance was effective January 1, 2017, and was applied prospectively and did not have a material impact on the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheet.

Equity method and joint ventures

In March 2016, the FASB issued new guidance that simplifies the transition to equity method accounting. The new guidance eliminates the requirement to retroactively apply the equity method of accounting when an increase in ownership interest in an investment qualifies for equity method accounting. The new guidance is effective January 1, 2017 and was applied prospectively. The application of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.

Consolidation

In October 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on consolidation relating to interests held through related parties that are under common control. The new guidance amends the consolidation requirements such that if a decision maker is required to evaluate whether it is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entry (VIE), it will need to consider only its proportionate indirect interest in the VIE held through a common control party. The guidance was effective January 1, 2017, was applied retrospectively and did not result in any change to our consolidation conclusions.

Future accounting changes

Revenue from contracts with customers

In 2014, the FASB issued new guidance on revenue from contracts with customers. The new guidance requires that an entity recognize revenue in accordance with a five-step model. This model is used to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the total consideration to which it expects to be entitled to during the term of the contract in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance also requires additional disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and the related cash flows. The Partnership will adopt the new standard on the effective date of January 1, 2018. There are two methods in which the new standard can be adopted: (1) a full retrospective approach with restatement of all prior periods presented, or (2) a modified retrospective approach with a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The Partnership currently anticipates adopting the standard using the modified retrospective approach with the cumulative-effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of adoption, subject to allowable and elected practical expedients.

The Partnership has identified all existing customer contracts that are within the scope of the new guidance and is in the process of analyzing individual contracts or groups of contracts on a segmented basis to identify any significant changes in how revenues are recognized as a result of implementing the new standard. While the Partnership has not identified any material differences in the amount and timing of revenue recognition for the contracts that have been analyzed to date, the evaluation is not complete and the Partnership has not concluded on the overall impact of adopting the new guidance. The Partnership continues its segmented contract analysis to obtain the information necessary to quantify, the cumulative-effect adjustment, if any, on prior period revenues. The Partnership also continues to address any system and process changes necessary to compile the information to meet the recognition and disclosure requirements of the new guidance.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance on the accounting for leases. The new guidance amends the definition of a lease requiring the customer to have both (1) the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the asset and (2) the right to direct the use of the asset in order for the arrangement to qualify as a lease. The new guidance also establishes a right-of-use model (ROU) that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and corresponding lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement. The new guidance does not make extensive changes to lessor accounting.

The new guidance is effective on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. The Partnership is continuing to identify and analyze existing lease agreements to determine the effect of adoption of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements. The Partnership is also addressing system and process changes necessary to compile the information to meet the recognition and disclosure requirements of the new guidance.

Goodwill Impairment

In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance on simplifying the test for goodwill impairment by eliminating the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure the impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying amount over its fair value. This new guidance is effective January 1, 2020 and will be applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Partnership is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of this guidance and has not yet determined the effect on its consolidated financial statements.