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Acquisitions and Divestitures
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]  
Acquisitions and Divestitures
3. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

AMA acquisition. In February 2019, WES Operating acquired the following assets from Anadarko (see Note 1), which collectively are referred to as the Anadarko Midstream Assets (“AMA”):

Wattenberg processing plant. The Wattenberg processing plant consists of a cryogenic train (with capacity of 190 million cubic feet per day (“MMcf/d”)) and a refrigeration train (with capacity of 80 MMcf/d) located in Adams County, Colorado, now part of the DJ Basin complex.

Wamsutter pipeline. The Wamsutter pipeline is a crude-oil gathering pipeline located in Sweetwater County, Wyoming and delivers crude oil into MPLX LP’s SLC Core Pipeline System (formerly referred to as the Wamsutter Pipeline System).

DJ Basin oil system. The DJ Basin oil system consists of (i) a crude-oil gathering system, (ii) a centralized oil stabilization facility (“COSF”), and (iii) a 12-mile crude-oil pipeline, located in Weld County, Colorado. The COSF consists of Trains I through VI with total capacity of 155 thousand barrels per day (“MBbls/d”) and two storage tanks with total capacity of 500,000 barrels. Train VI commenced operations in 2018. The pipeline connects the COSF to Tampa Rail.

DBM oil system. The DBM oil system consists of (i) a crude-oil gathering system, (ii) three central production facilities (“CPFs”), which include ten processing trains with total capacity of 75 MBbls/d, (iii) three storage tanks with total capacity of 30,000 barrels, (iv) a 14-mile crude-oil pipeline, and (v) two regional oil treating facilities (“ROTFs”), which include four trains with total capacity of 120 MBbls/d, located in Reeves and Loving Counties, Texas. The ROTFs commenced operations in 2018. The pipeline transports crude oil from the DBM oil system and one third-party CPF into Plains All American Pipeline.

APC water systems. The APC water systems consist of five produced-water disposal systems with total capacity of 565 MBbls/d, located in Reeves, Loving, and Ward Counties, Texas, which are now part of the DBM water systems. One produced-water disposal system commenced operations in 2017 and the other four commenced operations in 2018.

3. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES (CONTINUED)

A 20% interest in Saddlehorn. Saddlehorn owns (i) a crude-oil and condensate pipeline (excluding pipeline capacity leased by Saddlehorn) that originates in Laramie County, Wyoming, and terminates in Cushing, Oklahoma, and (ii) four storage tanks with total capacity of 300,000 barrels. The Saddlehorn interest is accounted for under the equity method of accounting and the pipeline is operated by a third party.

A 15% interest in Panola. Panola owns a 248-mile NGLs pipeline that originates in Panola County, Texas, and terminates in Mont Belvieu, Texas. The Panola interest is accounted for under the equity method of accounting and the pipeline is operated by a third party.

A 50% interest in Mi Vida. Mi Vida owns a cryogenic gas processing plant (with capacity of 200 MMcf/d) located in Ward County, Texas. The interest in Mi Vida is accounted for under the equity method of accounting and the processing plant is operated by a third party.

A 50% interest in Ranch Westex. Ranch Westex owns a processing plant consisting of a cryogenic train (with capacity of 100 MMcf/d) and a refrigeration train (with capacity of 25 MMcf/d), located in Ward County, Texas. The interest in Ranch Westex is accounted for under the equity method of accounting and the processing plant is operated by a third party.

Red Bluff Express acquisition. In January 2019, the Partnership acquired a 30% interest in Red Bluff Express, which owns a natural-gas pipeline operated by a third party that connects processing plants in Reeves and Loving Counties, Texas, to the WAHA hub in Pecos County, Texas. The Partnership acquired its 30% interest from a third party via an initial net investment of $92.5 million, which represented its share of costs incurred up to the date of acquisition. The initial investment was funded with cash on hand and the interest in Red Bluff Express is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. See Note 10.

Whitethorn LLC acquisition. In June 2018, the Partnership acquired a 20% interest in Whitethorn LLC, which owns a crude-oil and condensate pipeline that originates in Midland, Texas, and terminates in Sealy, Texas (the “Midland-to-Sealy pipeline”) and related storage facilities (collectively referred to as “Whitethorn”). A third party operates Whitethorn and oversees the related commercial activities. In connection with its investment in Whitethorn LLC, the Partnership shares proportionally in the commercial activities. The Partnership acquired its 20% interest via a $150.6 million net investment, which was funded with cash on hand and is accounted for under the equity method. See Note 10.

Cactus II acquisition. In June 2018, the Partnership acquired a 15% interest in Cactus II, which owns a crude-oil pipeline operated by a third party (the “Cactus II pipeline”) connecting West Texas to the Corpus Christi area. The Cactus II pipeline began delivering crude oil during the third quarter of 2019 and is expected to become fully operational in the first quarter of 2020. The Partnership acquired its 15% interest from a third party via an initial net investment of $12.1 million, which represented its share of costs incurred up to the date of acquisition. The initial investment was funded with cash on hand and the interest in Cactus II is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. See Note 10.

Property exchange. In March 2017, the Partnership acquired an additional 50% interest in the Delaware Basin JV Gathering LLC (“DBJV”) system (the “Additional DBJV System Interest”) from a third party in exchange for (a) the Partnership’s 33.75% non-operated interest in two natural-gas gathering systems located in northern Pennsylvania (the “Non-Operated Marcellus Interest”), commonly referred to as the Liberty and Rome systems, and (b) $155.0 million of cash consideration (collectively, the “Property Exchange”). The Partnership previously held a 50% interest in, and operated, the DBJV system.
The Property Exchange was accounted for as a non-monetary transaction whereby the acquired Additional DBJV System Interest was recorded at the fair value of the divested Non-Operated Marcellus Interest plus the $155.0 million of cash consideration. The Property Exchange resulted in a net gain of $125.7 million recorded as Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations. Results of operations attributable to the Property Exchange were included in the consolidated statements of operations beginning on the acquisition date in the first quarter of 2017.

3. ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES (CONTINUED)

DBJV acquisition - Deferred purchase price obligation - Anadarko. Prior to WES Operating’s agreement with Anadarko to settle the deferred purchase price obligation early, the consideration that would have been paid for the March 2015 acquisition of DBJV from Anadarko consisted of a cash payment to Anadarko due on March 31, 2020. In May 2017, WES Operating reached an agreement with Anadarko to settle this obligation with a cash payment to Anadarko of $37.3 million, which was equal to the estimated net present value of the obligation at March 31, 2017.

Newcastle system divestiture. In December 2018, the Newcastle system, located in Northeast Wyoming, was sold to a third party for $3.2 million, resulting in a net gain on sale of $0.6 million recorded as Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations. The Partnership previously held a 50% interest in, and operated, the Newcastle system.

Helper and Clawson systems divestiture. In June 2017, the Helper and Clawson systems, located in Utah, were sold to a third party, resulting in a net gain on sale of $16.3 million recorded as Gain (loss) on divestiture and other, net in the consolidated statements of operations.