Long-Term Incentive Plan

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Long-Term Incentive Plan [Abstract]

Long-Term Incentive Plan

9. Long-Term Incentive Plan

     We have a long-term incentive plan ("LTIP") for certain of our employees and for directors of our general partner. The LTIP primarily consists of phantom units and, as of June 30, 2012, permits the grant of awards covering an aggregate of 4.7 million of our limited partner units. The remaining units available under the LTIP at June 30, 2012 total 1.2 million. The compensation committee of our general partner's board of directors administers our LTIP.

Our equity-based incentive compensation expense was as follows (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
		June 30, 2011						June 30, 2011
		Equity		Liability				Equity		Liability
		Method		Method		Total		Method		Method		Total
2009 awards	$	2,308	$	1,583	$	3,891	$	3,235	$	2,205	$	5,440
2010 awards		387		165		552		1,337		519		1,856
2011 awards		562		144		706		1,124		289		1,413
Retention awards		118		—		118		308		—		308
Total	$	3,375	$	1,892	$	5,267	$	6,004	$	3,013	$	9,017
Allocation of LTIP expense on our consolidated statements of income:
G&A expense					$	4,663					$	8,320
Operating expense						604						697
Total					$	5,267					$	9,017

	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30, 2012						June 30, 2012
		Equity		Liability				Equity		Liability
		Method		Method		Total		Method		Method		Total
2010 awards	$	1,655	$	770	$	2,425	$	2,177	$	1,178	$	3,355
2011 awards		684		182		866		1,427		455		1,882
2012 awards		569		147		716		1,130		298		1,428
Retention awards		158		—		158		343		—		343
Total	$	3,066	$	1,099	$	4,165	$	5,077	$	1,931	$	7,008
Allocation of LTIP expense on our consolidated statements of income:
G&A expense					$	3,715					$	6,220
Operating expense						450						788
Total					$	4,165					$	7,008