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PLAINS ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES INDEX TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)  

ý

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

OR

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 1-14569

PLAINS ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  76-0582150
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

333 Clay Street, Suite 1600, Houston, Texas 77002
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

(713) 646-4100
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

Title of each class
  Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Units   New York Stock Exchange

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
NONE

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes ý        No o

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes ý    No o

        Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendments to this Form 10-K.    o

        The aggregate value of the Common Units held by non-affiliates of the registrant (treating all executive officers and directors of the registrant and holders of 10% or more of the Common Units outstanding, for this purpose, as if they may be affiliates of the registrant) was approximately $1.5 billion on June 30, 2004, based on $33.38 per unit, the closing price of the Common Units as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on such date.

        At February 25, 2005, there were outstanding 67,868,108 Common Units.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
NONE





PLAINS ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-K—2004 ANNUAL REPORT


Table of Contents

 
   
Part I
Items 1 and 2.   Business and Properties

Item 3.

 

Legal Proceedings

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders


Part II

Item 5.

 

Market for the Registrant's Common Units and Related Unitholder Matters

Item 6.

 

Selected Financial and Operating Data

Item 7.

 

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 7A.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks

Item 8.

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Item 9.

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Item 9A.

 

Controls and Procedures

Item 9B.

 

Other Information


Part III

Item 10.

 

Directors and Executive Officers of Our General Partner

Item 11.

 

Executive Compensation

Item 12.

 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Unitholders' Matters

Item 13.

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

Item 14.

 

Principal Accountant Fees and Services


Part IV

Item 15.

 

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this report are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements identified by the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "intend" and "forecast," and similar expressions and statements regarding our business strategy, plans and objectives of our management for future operations. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, based on what we believe are reasonable assumptions. Certain factors could cause actual results to differ materially from results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to:

        Other factors described herein, or factors that are unknown or unpredictable, could also have a material adverse effect on future results. Please read "Risk Factors Related to Our Business" discussed in Item 7. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." Except as required by applicable securities laws, we do not intend to update these forward-looking statements and information.



PART I


Items 1 and 2.    Business and Properties

General

        We are a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership, formed in 1998 and engaged in interstate and intrastate crude oil transportation, and crude oil gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage, as well as the marketing and storage of liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas related petroleum products. We refer to liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas related petroleum products collectively as "LPG." We have an extensive network of pipeline transportation, storage and gathering assets in key oil producing basins and at major market hubs in the United States and Canada. Our operations can be categorized into two primary business activities:

Business Strategy

        Our principal business strategy is to capitalize on the regional crude oil supply and demand imbalances that exist in the United States and Canada by combining the strategic location and distinctive capabilities of our transportation and terminalling assets with our extensive marketing and distribution expertise to generate sustainable earnings and cash flow.

1



        We intend to execute our business strategy by:

        To a lesser degree, we also engage in a similar business strategy with respect to the wholesale marketing and storage of LPG.

Financial Strategy

Targeted Credit Profile

        We believe that a major factor in our continued success is our ability to maintain a competitive cost of capital and access to the capital markets. We have consistently communicated to the financial community our intention to maintain a strong credit profile that we believe is consistent with an investment grade credit rating. We have targeted a general credit profile with the following attributes:

        Based on our 2004 results, we were slightly above our targeted metric for long-term debt-to-EBITDA primarily due to acquisitions made at various times throughout the year, and the inclusion of less than a full year's results in EBITDA. In order for us to maintain our targeted credit profile and achieve growth through acquisitions, we intend to fund acquisitions using approximately equal proportions of equity and debt. In certain cases, acquisitions will initially be financed using debt since it is difficult to predict the actual timing of accessing the market to raise equity. Accordingly, from time to time we may be outside the parameters of our targeted credit profile.

Credit Rating

        As of February 2005, our senior unsecured rating with Standard & Poors and Moody's Investment Services was BBB- stable and Baa3 stable, respectively, both of which are investment grade. We cannot assure you that these ratings will remain in effect for any given period of time or that one or both of these ratings will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency. Note that a credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities, and may be revised or withdrawn at any time.

2



Competitive Strengths

        We believe that the following competitive strengths position us to successfully execute our principal business strategy:

3


Organizational History

        We were formed as a master limited partnership in September 1998 to acquire and operate midstream crude oil businesses and assets. We completed our initial public offering in November 1998. Since June 2001, our 2% general partner interest has been held by Plains AAP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership. Plains All American GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is Plains AAP, L.P.'s general partner. Unless the context otherwise requires, we use the term "general partner" to refer to both Plains AAP, L.P. and Plains All American GP LLC. Plains AAP, L.P. and Plains All American GP LLC are essentially held by seven owners. See "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Unitholders' Matters—Beneficial Ownership of General Partner Interest."

Partnership Structure and Management

        Our operations are conducted through, and our operating assets are owned by, our subsidiaries. We own our interests in our subsidiaries through two operating partnerships, Plains Marketing, L.P. and Plains Pipeline, L.P. Our Canadian and LPG operations are conducted through Plains Marketing Canada, L.P.

        Our general partner, Plains AAP, L.P., is a limited partnership. Our general partner is managed by its general partner, Plains All American GP LLC, which has ultimate responsibility for conducting our business and managing our operations. Plains All American GP LLC is governed by an eight-member board of directors. As amended in July 2004, the limited liability company agreement provides that four directors are designated by the four owners that hold 9% or greater of the outstanding membership interests of Plains All American GP LLC, one director is the Chairman and CEO and three independent directors are elected by majority vote of the membership owners of Plains All American GP LLC. Our general partner does not receive a management fee or other compensation in connection with its management of our business, but it is reimbursed for all direct and indirect expenses incurred on our behalf.

        The chart on the next page depicts the current structure and ownership of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and certain subsidiaries.

4


Partnership Structure

GRAPHIC

5


Acquisitions

        An integral component of our business strategy and growth objective is to acquire assets and operations that are strategic and complementary to our existing operations. Such assets and operations include crude oil related assets and LPG assets, as well as energy assets that are closely related to, or intertwined with, these business lines, and enable us to leverage our asset base, knowledge base and skill sets. We have established a target to complete, on average, $200 million to $300 million in acquisitions per year, subject to availability of attractive assets on acceptable terms. Since 1998, and through December 31, 2004, we have completed numerous acquisitions for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.9 billion. In addition, from time to time, we have sold assets that are no longer considered essential to our operations.

        The following table summarizes selected acquisitions that we have completed over the past five years:

Acquisition
  Date
  Description
  Approximate Purchase Price (in millions)
Schaefferstown Propane Storage Facility   August 2004   Storage capacity of approximately 0.5 million barrels of refrigerated propane   $32

Cal Ven Pipeline System

 

May 2004

 

195-miles of gathering and mainline crude oil pipelines in northern Alberta

 

$19

Link Energy LLC

 

April 2004

 

The North American crude oil and pipeline operations of Link Energy, LLC ("Link")

 

$332

Capline and Capwood Pipeline Systems

 

March 2004

 

An approximate 22% undivided joint interest in the Capline Pipeline System and an approximate 76% undivided joint interest in the Capwood Pipeline System

 

$158

South Saskatchewan Pipeline System

 

November 2003

 

A 158-mile mainline crude oil pipeline and 203 miles of gathering lines in Saskatchewan

 

$48

ArkLaTex Pipeline System

 

October 2003

 

240 miles of crude oil gathering and mainline pipelines and 470,000 barrels of crude oil storage capacity

 

$21

Iraan to Midland Pipeline System

 

June 2003

 

98-mile mainline crude oil pipeline

 

$18

South Louisiana Assets

 

June 2003 and December 2003

 

Various terminalling and gathering assets in South Louisiana, including a 100% interest in Atchafalaya Pipeline, L.L.C.

 

$18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6



Iatan Gathering System

 

March 2003

 

West Texas crude oil gathering system

 

$24

Red River Pipeline System

 

February 2003

 

334-mile crude oil pipeline along with 645,000 barrels of crude oil storage capacity

 

$19

Shell West Texas Assets

 

August 2002

 

Basin Pipeline System, Permian Basin Pipeline System and the Rancho Pipeline System

 

$324

Canadian Operations

 

May/July 2001

 

The assets of CANPET Energy Group (crude oil and LPG marketing) and substantially all of the Canadian crude oil pipeline, gathering, storage and terminalling assets of Murphy Oil Company Ltd. (560 miles of crude oil and condensate mainlines along with 1.1 million barrels of crude oil storage and terminalling capacity)

 

$232

        The following is a more in-depth discussion of selected acquisitions completed in 2004:

Schaefferstown Propane Storage Facility

        In August 2004, we completed the acquisition of the Schaefferstown Propane Storage Facility from Koch Hydrocarbon, L.P. The total purchase price was approximately $32 million, including transaction costs. In connection with the transaction, the Partnership also acquired an additional $14.2 million of inventory. The transaction was funded through a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under the Partnership's revolving credit facilities. The storage facility is located approximately 65 miles northwest of Philadelphia near Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania, and has the capacity to store approximately 0.5 million barrels of refrigerated propane. In addition, the facility has 19 bullet storage tanks with an aggregate capacity of approximately 14,000 barrels. Propane is delivered to the facility via truck or pipeline and is transported out of the facility by truck. In addition, the transaction also included approximately 61 acres of land and a truck rack. The results of operations and assets from this acquisition have been included in our consolidated financial statements and our gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage operations segment since August 25, 2004.

Cal Ven Pipeline System

        On May 7, 2004, we completed the acquisition of the Cal Ven Pipeline System from Cal Ven Limited, a subsidiary of Unocal Canada Limited. The total purchase price was approximately $19 million, including transaction costs. The Cal Ven Pipeline System includes approximately 195 miles of 8-inch and 10-inch gathering and mainline crude oil pipelines. The system is located in northern Alberta and has the ability to deliver crude oil into the Rainbow Pipeline System. The results of operations and assets from this acquisition have been included in our consolidated financial statements and our pipeline operations segment since May 1, 2004.

7



Link Energy LLC

        On April 1, 2004, we completed the acquisition of all of the North American crude oil and pipeline operations of Link Energy LLC ("Link") for approximately $332 million, including $268 million of cash (net of approximately $5.5 million subsequently returned to us from an indemnity escrow account) and approximately $64 million of net liabilities assumed and acquisition-related costs. The Link crude oil business consists of approximately 7,000 miles of active crude oil pipeline and gathering systems, over 10 million barrels of active crude oil storage capacity, a fleet of approximately 200 owned or leased trucks and approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil linefill and working inventory. The Link assets complement our assets in West Texas and along the Gulf Coast and allowed us to expand our presence in the Rocky Mountain and Oklahoma/Kansas regions. The results of operations and assets from this acquisition have been included in our consolidated financial statements and both our pipeline operations and gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage operations segments since April 1, 2004.

Capline and Capwood Pipeline System

        In March 2004, we completed the acquisition of all of Shell Pipeline Company LP's ("SPLC") interests in two entities for approximately $158.0 million in cash (including a $15.8 million deposit paid in December 2003) and approximately $0.5 million of transaction and other costs. The principal assets of the entities are: (i) an approximate 22% undivided joint interest in the Capline Pipeline System, and (ii) an approximate 76% undivided joint interest in the Capwood Pipeline System. The Capline Pipeline System is a 633-mile, 40-inch mainline crude oil pipeline originating in St. James, Louisiana, and terminating in Patoka, Illinois. The Capline system is one of the primary transportation routes for crude oil shipped into the Midwestern U.S., accessing over 2.7 million barrels of refining capacity in PADD II. Capline has direct connections to a significant amount of sweet and light sour crude production in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, with its two active docks capable of handling 600,000-barrel tankers as well as access to LOOP, the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, the Capline System is a key transporter of both domestic and foreign crude to PADD II. The total system operating capacity is 1.14 million barrels per day, with approximately 248,000 barrels per day subject to the interest acquired. Since we acquired this asset, throughput on the interest we acquired averaged approximately 147,000 barrels per day.

        The Capwood Pipeline System is a 57-mile, 20-inch mainline crude oil pipeline originating in Patoka, Illinois, and terminating in Wood River, Illinois. The Capwood system has an operating capacity of 277,000 barrels per day of crude oil. Of that capacity, approximately 211,000 barrels per day are subject to the interest acquired. Since we acquired this asset, throughput on the interest we acquired averaged approximately 120,000 barrels per day. The Capwood System has the ability to deliver crude at Wood River to PADD II refineries and pipelines. Movements on the Capwood system are driven by the volumes shipped on Capline as well as Canadian crude that can be delivered to Patoka via the Mustang Pipeline. Since closing, we have assumed the operatorship of the Capwood system from SPLC.

Ongoing Acquisition Activities

        Consistent with our business strategy, we are continuously engaged in discussions with potential sellers regarding the possible purchase by us of assets and operations that are strategic and complementary to our existing operations. Such assets and operations include crude oil related assets and LPG assets, as well as energy assets that are closely related to, or intertwined with, these business lines, and enable us to leverage our asset base, knowledge base and skill sets. Such acquisition efforts involve participation by us in processes that have been made public, involve a number of potential buyers and are commonly referred to as "auction" processes, as well as situations in which we believe we are the only party or one of a very limited number of potential buyers in negotiations with the

8



potential seller. These acquisition efforts often involve assets which, if acquired, would have a material effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Dispositions

Shutdown and Sale of Rancho Pipeline System

        We acquired an interest in the Rancho Pipeline System from Shell in August 2002. The Rancho Pipeline System Agreement dated November 1, 1951, pursuant to which the system was constructed and operated, terminated in March 2003. Upon termination, the agreement required the owners to take the pipeline system, in which we owned an approximate 50% interest, out of service. Accordingly, we notified our shippers and did not accept nominations for movements after February 28, 2003. This shutdown was contemplated at the time of the acquisition and was accounted for under purchase accounting in accordance with SFAS No. 141 "Business Combinations." The pipeline was shut down on March 1, 2003 and a purge of the crude oil linefill was completed in April 2003. In June 2003, we completed transactions whereby we transferred our ownership interest in approximately 241 miles of the total 458 miles of the pipeline in exchange for $4.0 million and approximately 500,000 barrels of crude oil tankage in West Texas. In August 2004, we sold our interest in the remaining portion of the system for approximately $0.9 million, including the assumption by the purchaser of all liabilities typically associated with pipelines of this type. We recognized a gain of approximately $0.6 million on this transaction.

All American Pipeline Linefill Sale and Asset Disposition

        In March 2000, we sold the segment of the All American Pipeline that extends from Emidio, California to McCamey, Texas for $129.0 million. Except for minor third-party volumes, one of our subsidiaries, Plains Marketing, L.P., was the sole shipper on this segment of the pipeline since its predecessor acquired the line from the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in July 1998. We realized net proceeds of approximately $124.0 million after the associated transaction costs and estimated costs to remove equipment. We used the proceeds from the sale to reduce outstanding debt. We recognized a gain of approximately $20.1 million in connection with the sale.

        We had suspended shipments of crude oil on this segment of the pipeline in November 1999. At that time, we owned approximately 5.2 million barrels of crude oil in the segment of the pipeline. We sold this crude oil from November 1999 to February 2000 for net proceeds of approximately $100.0 million, which were used for working capital purposes. We recognized an aggregate gain of approximately $44.6 million, of which approximately $28.1 million was recognized in 2000.

Description of Segments and Associated Assets

        Our business activities are conducted through two primary segments, Pipeline Operations and Gathering, Marketing, Terminalling and Storage Operations ("GMT&S"). Our operations are conducted in approximately 40 states in the United States and six provinces in Canada.

        Following is a description of the activities and assets for each of our business segments:

Pipeline Operations

        As of December 31, 2004, we owned approximately 15,000 miles of active gathering and mainline crude oil pipelines located throughout the United States and Canada. Approximately 13,000 miles of these pipelines are used in our pipeline operations segment with the remainder used in our GMT&S segment. Our activities from pipeline operations generally consist of transporting crude oil for a fee and third-party leases of pipeline capacity, as well as barrel exchanges and buy/sell arrangements.

9



        Substantially all of our pipeline systems are controlled or monitored from one of two central control rooms with computer systems designed to continuously monitor real-time operational data, including measurement of crude oil quantities injected into and delivered through the pipelines, product flow rates, and pressure and temperature variations. The systems are designed to enhance leak detection capabilities, sound automatic alarms in the event of operational conditions outside of pre-established parameters and provide for remote controlled shut-down of pump stations on the pipeline systems. Pump stations, storage facilities and meter measurement points along the pipeline systems are linked by telephone, satellite, radio or a combination thereof to provide communications for remote monitoring and in some instances control, which reduces our requirement for full-time site personnel at most of these locations.

        We perform scheduled maintenance on all of our pipeline systems and make repairs and replacements when necessary or appropriate. We attempt to control corrosion of the mainlines through the use of cathodic protection, corrosion inhibiting chemicals injected into the crude stream and other protection systems typically used in the industry. Maintenance facilities containing equipment for pipe repairs, spare parts and trained response personnel are strategically located along the pipelines and in concentrated operating areas. We believe that all of our pipelines have been constructed and are maintained in all material respects in accordance with applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations, standards prescribed by the American Petroleum Institute, the Canadian Standards Association and accepted industry practice. See "—Regulation—Pipeline and Storage Regulation."

Major Pipeline Assets

        The All American Pipeline is a common carrier crude oil pipeline system that transports crude oil produced from certain outer continental shelf, or OCS, fields offshore California via connecting pipelines to refinery markets in California. The system extends approximately 10 miles along the California coast from Las Flores to Gaviota (24-inch diameter pipe) and continues from Gaviota approximately 126 miles to our station in Emidio, California (30-inch diameter pipe). Between Gaviota and our Emidio Station, the All American Pipeline interconnects with our San Joaquin Valley, or SJV, Gathering System as well as various third-party intrastate pipelines. The system is subject to tariff rates regulated by the FERC.

        The All American Pipeline currently transports OCS crude oil received at the onshore facilities of the Santa Ynez field at Las Flores and the onshore facilities of the Point Arguello field located at Gaviota. ExxonMobil, which owns all of the Santa Ynez production, and Plains Exploration and Production Company ("PXP") and other producers that together own approximately 75% of the Point Arguello production, have entered into transportation agreements committing to transport all of their production from these fields on the All American Pipeline. These agreements, which expire in August 2007, provide for a minimum tariff with annual escalations based on specific composite indices. The producers from the Point Arguello field that do not have contracts with us have no other means of transporting their production and, therefore, ship their volumes on the All American Pipeline at the filed tariffs. Volumes attributable to PXP are purchased and sold to a third party under our marketing agreement with PXP before such volumes enter the All American Pipeline. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Transactions with Related Parties—General." The third party pays the same tariff as required in the transportation agreements. For 2003 and 2004, the tariffs averaged $1.71 per barrel and $1.81 per barrel, respectively. Effective January 1, 2005, based on the contractual escalator, the average tariff increased to $1.88 per barrel. The agreements do not require these owners to transport a minimum volume.

        A significant portion of our revenues less direct field operating costs is derived from the pipeline transportation business associated with these two fields. The relative contribution to our revenues less

10



direct field operating costs from these fields has decreased from approximately 24% in 2000 to 11% in 2004, as we have grown and diversified through acquisitions and organic expansions and as a result of declines in volumes produced and transported from these fields. Since our acquisition in 1998, the volume decline has been substantially offset by an increase in pipeline tariffs. Over the last several years, transportation volumes received from the Santa Ynez and Point Arguello fields have declined from 92,000 and 60,000 average daily barrels, respectively, in 1995 to 44,000 and 10,000 average daily barrels, respectively, for 2004. We expect that there will continue to be natural production declines from each of these fields as the underlying reservoirs are depleted. A 5,000 barrel per day decline in volumes shipped from these fields would result in a decrease in annual pipeline segment profit of approximately $3.2 million, based on a tariff of $1.88 per barrel.

        In October 2004, PXP announced that it had successfully completed an initial development well into the Rocky Point field that is accessible from the Point Arguello platforms and that drilling operations are underway on a second development well. If successful, such incremental drilling activity could lead to increased volumes on our All American Pipeline System in future periods. However, we can give no assurance that our volumes transported would increase as a result of this drilling activity.

        The table below sets forth the historical volumes received from both of these fields for the past five years:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
  (barrels in thousands)

Average daily volumes received from:                    
  Point Arguello (at Gaviota)   10   13   16   18   18
  Santa Ynez (at Las Flores)   44   46   50   51   56
   
 
 
 
 
  Total   54   59   66   69   74
   
 
 
 
 

Basin Pipeline System

        The Basin Pipeline System, in which we own an approximate 87% undivided joint interest, is a primary route for transporting Permian Basin crude oil to Cushing, Oklahoma, for further delivery to Mid-Continent and Midwest refining centers. We acquired the Basin Pipeline System in August 2002. Since acquisition, we have been the operator of the system. The Basin system is a 515-mile mainline, telescoping crude oil system with a capacity ranging from approximately 144,000 barrels per day to 394,000 barrels per day depending on the segment. System throughput (as measured by system deliveries) was approximately 265,000 barrels per day (net to our interest) during 2004. Within the current operating range, a 20,000 barrel per day decline in volumes shipped on the Basin system would result in a decrease in annual pipeline segment profit of approximately $1.8 million.

        The Basin system consists of three primary movements of crude oil: (i) barrels are shipped from Jal, New Mexico to the West Texas markets of Wink and Midland, where they are exchanged and/or further shipped to refining centers; (ii) barrels are shipped to the Mid-Continent region on the Midland to Wichita Falls segment and the Wichita Falls to Cushing segment; and (iii) foreign and Gulf of Mexico barrels are delivered into Basin at Wichita Falls and delivered to a connecting carrier or shipped to Cushing for further distribution to Mid-Continent or Midwest refineries. The system also includes approximately 5.8 million barrels (5.0 million barrels, net to our interest) of crude oil storage capacity located along the system.

        In 2004, we expanded a 424-mile section of the system extending from Midland, Texas to Cushing, Oklahoma. With the completion of this expansion, the capacity of this section has increased approximately 15%, from 350,000 barrels per day to approximately 400,000 barrels per day. The Basin

11



system is subject to tariff rates regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the "FERC"). TEPPCO Partners, L.P. owns the remaining approximately 13% interest in the system.

Capline/Capwood Pipeline Systems

        The Capline Pipeline System, in which we own a 22% undivided joint interest, is a 633-mile, 40-inch mainline crude oil pipeline originating in St. James, Louisiana, and terminating in Patoka, Illinois. The Capline Pipeline System is one of the primary transportation routes for crude oil shipped into the Midwestern U.S., accessing over 2.7 million barrels of refining capacity in PADD II. Capline has direct connections to a significant amount of crude production in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, with its two active docks capable of handling 600,000-barrel tankers as well as access to LOOP, it is a key transporter of sweet and light sour foreign crude to PADD II. With a total system operating capacity of 1.14 million barrels per day of crude oil, approximately 248,000 barrels per day are subject to our interest. Since we acquired this asset in March 2004, throughput on the interest acquired has averaged approximately 147,000 barrels per day. A 10,000 barrel per day decline in volumes shipped on the Capline system would result in a decrease in annual pipeline segment profit of approximately $1.5 million.

        The Capwood Pipeline System, in which we own a 76% undivided joint interest, is a 57-mile, 20-inch mainline crude oil pipeline originating in Patoka, Illinois, and terminating in Wood River, Illinois. The Capwood Pipeline System has an operating capacity of 277,000 barrels per day of crude oil. Of that capacity, approximately 211,000 barrels per day are subject to our interest. The system has the ability to deliver crude oil at Wood River to several other PADD II refineries and pipelines. Movements on the Capwood system are driven by the volumes shipped on Capline as well as Canadian crude that can be delivered to Patoka via the Mustang Pipeline. PAA assumed the operatorship of the Capwood system from SPLC. Since we acquired this asset in March 2004, throughput net to our interest acquired has averaged approximately 120,000 barrels per day.

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        Our significant pipeline systems are discussed on the previous pages. Following is a tabular presentation of all of our active pipeline assets in the United States and Canada, grouped by geographic location and including the aforementioned major pipeline assets:

Region

  Pipeline
  Ownership
Percentage

  Pipeline
Mileage

  2004
Average Net
Volumes

Southwest US   Basin   87.0%   515   265,000
    West Texas Gathering   100.0%   717   80,000
    Permian Basin   100.0%   919   46,000
    Dollarhide   100.0%   24   6,000
    Mesa   8.8%   79   28,000
    Iraan   100.0%   98   23,000
    Iatan   100.0%   360   22,000
    New Mexico   100.0%   1,185   50,000
    Texas   100.0%   1,276   80,000
    Lefors   100.0%   68   2,000
    Merkel   100.0%   128   1,000

Western US

 

All American

 

100.0%

 

136

 

54,000
    San Joaquin Valley   100.0%   86   74,000

US Rocky Mountains

 

Butte

 

22.0%

 

370

 

15,000
    North Dakota   100.0%   620   39,000

US Gulf Coast

 

Sabine Pass

 

100.0%

 

33

 

15,000
    Ferriday   100.0%   570   7,000
    La Gloria   100.0%   114   23,000
    Red River   100.0%   567   12,000
    ArkLaTex   100.0%   161   7,000
    Atchafalaya   100.0%   35   14,000
    Eugene Island   100.0%   66   12,000
    Bridger Lakes   100.0%   17   3,000
    Capline   22.0%   633   123,000
    Capwood/Patoka   76.0%   57   109,000
    Pearsall   100.0%   62   2,000
    Mississippi/Alabama   100.0%   686   29,000
    Southwest Louisiana   100.0%   267   4,000

Central US

 

Oklahoma

 

100.0%

 

1,498

 

56,000
    Midcontinent   100.0%   1,196   22,000

Canada

 

Cal Ven

 

100.0%

 

177

 

11,000
    Manito   100.0%   101   71,000
    Milk River   100.0%   11   106,000
    Cactus Lake   14.9%   55   3,000
    Wascana   100.0%   114   9,000
    Wapella   100.0%   79   14,000
    South Sask   100.0%   158   49,000

Gathering, Marketing, Terminalling and Storage Operations

        The combination of our gathering and marketing operations and our terminalling and storage operations provides a counter-cyclical balance that has a stabilizing effect on our operations and cash

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flow. The strategic use of our terminalling and storage assets in conjunction with our gathering and marketing operations generally provides us with the flexibility to maintain our margins irrespective of whether a strong or weak market exists. Following is a description of our activities with respect to this segment.

Gathering and Marketing Operations

        Crude Oil.    The majority of our gathering and marketing activities are in the geographic locations previously discussed. These activities include:

        We purchase crude oil from many independent producers and believe that we have established broad-based relationships with crude oil producers in our areas of operations. Gathering and marketing activities involve relatively large volumes of transactions often with lower margins than pipeline and terminalling and storage operations.

        The following table shows the average daily volume of our lease gathering and bulk purchases for the past five years:

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
  (barrels in thousands)

Lease gathering   589   437   410   348   262
Bulk purchases   148   90   68   46   28
   
 
 
 
 
  Total volumes per day   737   527   478   394   290
   
 
 
 
 

        Crude Oil Purchases.    We purchase crude oil from producers under contracts, the majority of which range in term from a thirty-day evergreen to three years. In a typical producer's operation, crude oil flows from the wellhead to a separator where the petroleum gases are removed. After separation, the crude oil is treated to remove water, sand and other contaminants and is then moved into the producer's on-site storage tanks. When the tank is approaching capacity, the producer contacts our field personnel to purchase and transport the crude oil to market. We utilize our truck fleet and gathering pipelines as well as third-party pipelines, trucks and barges to transport the crude oil to market. We own or lease approximately 400 trucks used for gathering crude oil.

        We currently have a marketing agreement with PXP for certain of its equity crude oil production and that of its subsidiaries. The marketing agreement provides that we will purchase PXP's equity crude oil production for resale at market prices, for which we charge a fee of $0.20 per barrel. For any new contracts for the sale of the crude oil entered into after January 1, 2005, the marketing fee will be adjusted to $0.15 per barrel, subject to further adjustment in November 2007 based upon then existing market conditions. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Transactions with Related Parties—General."

        Bulk Purchases.    In addition to purchasing crude oil at the wellhead from producers, we purchase crude oil in bulk at major pipeline terminal locations. This oil is transported from the wellhead to the

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pipeline by major oil companies, large independent producers or other gathering and marketing companies. We purchase crude oil in bulk when we believe additional opportunities exist to realize margins further downstream in the crude oil distribution chain. The opportunities to earn additional margins vary over time with changing market conditions. Accordingly, the margins associated with our bulk purchases will fluctuate from period to period.

        Crude Oil Sales.    The marketing of crude oil is complex and requires current detailed knowledge of crude oil sources and end markets and a familiarity with a number of factors including grades of crude oil, individual refinery demand for specific grades of crude oil, area market price structures for the different grades of crude oil, location of customers, availability of transportation facilities and timing and costs (including storage) involved in delivering crude oil to the appropriate customer. We sell our crude oil to major integrated oil companies, independent refiners and other resellers in various types of sale and exchange transactions. The majority of these contracts are at market prices and have terms ranging from one month to three years.

        We establish a margin for crude oil we purchase by selling crude oil for physical delivery to third-party users, such as independent refiners or major oil companies, or by entering into a future delivery obligation with respect to futures contracts on the NYMEX or over-the-counter. Through these transactions, we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced between crude oil purchases and sales and future delivery obligations. From time to time, we enter into various types of sale and exchange transactions including fixed price delivery contracts, floating price collar arrangements, financial swaps and crude oil futures contracts as hedging devices. Except for pre-defined inventory positions, our policy is generally to purchase only crude oil for which we have a market, to structure our sales contracts so that crude oil price fluctuations do not materially affect the segment profit we receive, and to not acquire and hold crude oil, futures contracts or other derivative products for the purpose of speculating on crude oil price changes that might expose us to indeterminable losses. In November 1999, we discovered a significant violation of this policy. As a result, we incurred an aggregate loss of approximately $181 million in unauthorized trading losses, including associated costs and legal expenses.

        Crude Oil Exchanges.    We pursue exchange opportunities to enhance margins throughout the gathering and marketing process. When opportunities arise to increase our margin or to acquire a grade of crude oil that more closely matches our physical delivery requirement or the preferences of our refinery customers, we exchange physical crude oil with third parties. These exchanges are effected through contracts called exchange or buy-sell agreements. Through an exchange agreement, we agree to buy crude oil that differs in terms of geographic location, grade of crude oil or physical delivery schedule from crude oil we have available for sale. Generally, we enter into exchanges to acquire crude oil at locations that are closer to our end markets, thereby reducing transportation costs and increasing our margin. We also exchange our crude oil to be physically delivered at a later date, if the exchange is expected to result in a higher margin net of storage costs, and enter into exchanges based on the grade of crude oil, which includes such factors as sulfur content and specific gravity, in order to meet the quality specifications of our physical delivery contracts.

        Producer Services.    Crude oil purchasers who buy from producers compete on the basis of competitive prices and highly responsive services. Through our team of crude oil purchasing representatives, we maintain ongoing relationships with producers in the United States and Canada. We believe that our ability to offer high-quality field and administrative services to producers is a key factor in our ability to maintain volumes of purchased crude oil and to obtain new volumes. Field services include efficient gathering capabilities, availability of trucks, willingness to construct gathering pipelines where economically justified, timely pickup of crude oil from tank batteries at the lease or production point, accurate measurement of crude oil volumes received, avoidance of spills and effective management of pipeline deliveries. Accounting and other administrative services include securing

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division orders (statements from interest owners affirming the division of ownership in crude oil purchased by us), providing statements of the crude oil purchased each month, disbursing production proceeds to interest owners, and calculation and payment of ad valorem and production taxes on behalf of interest owners. In order to compete effectively, we must maintain records of title and division order interests in an accurate and timely manner for purposes of making prompt and correct payment of crude oil production proceeds, together with the correct payment of all severance and production taxes associated with such proceeds.

        Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Other Petroleum Products.    We also market and store LPG and other petroleum products in the United States and Canada. These activities include:


        We purchase LPG from numerous producers and have established long-term, broad based relationships with LPG producers in our areas of operation. We purchase LPG directly from gas plants, major pipeline terminals, refineries and storage locations. Marketing activities for LPG typically consist of smaller volumes and generally higher margin per barrel transactions relative to crude oil.

        LPG Purchases.    We purchase LPG from producers, refiners, and other LPG marketing companies under contracts that range from immediate delivery to one year in term. In a typical producer's or refiner's operation, LPG that is produced at the gas plant or refinery is fractionated into various components including propane and butane and then purchased by us for movement via tank truck, railcar or pipeline.

        In addition to purchasing LPG at gas plants or refineries, we also purchase LPG in bulk at major pipeline terminal points and storage facilities from major oil companies, large independent producers or other LPG marketing companies. We purchase LPG in bulk when we believe additional opportunities exist to realize margins further downstream in our LPG distribution chain. The opportunities to earn additional margins vary over time with changing market conditions. Accordingly, the margins associated with our bulk purchases will fluctuate from period to period.

        LPG Sales.    The marketing of LPG is complex and requires current detailed knowledge of LPG sources and end markets and a familiarity with a number of factors including the various modes and availability of transportation, area market prices and timing and costs of delivering LPG to customers.

        We sell LPG primarily to industrial end users and retailers, and limited volumes to other marketers. Propane is sold to small independent retailers who then transport the product via bobtail truck to residential consumers for home heating and to some light industrial users such as forklift operators. Butane is used by refiners for gasoline blending and as a diluent for the movement of conventional heavy oil production. Butane demand for use as heavy oil diluent has increased as supplies of Canadian condensate have declined.

        We establish a margin for propane by transporting it in bulk, via various transportation modes, to terminals where we deliver the propane to our retailer customers for subsequent delivery to their individual heating customers. We also create margin by selling propane for future physical delivery to third party users, such as retailers and industrial users. Through these transactions, we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced between propane purchases and sales and future delivery

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obligations. From time to time, we enter into various types of sale and exchange transactions including floating price collar arrangements, financial swaps and crude oil and LPG-related futures contracts as hedging devices. Except for pre-defined inventory positions, our policy is generally to purchase only LPG for which we have a market, and to structure our sales contracts so that LPG spot price fluctuations do not materially affect the segment profit we receive. Margin is created on the butane purchased by delivering large volumes during the short refinery blending season through the use of our extensive leased railcar fleet and the use of our own storage facilities and third party storage facilities. We also create margin on butane by capturing the difference in price between condensate and butane when butane is used to replace condensate as a diluent for the movement of Canadian heavy oil production. While we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced within our LPG activities, as a result of production, transportation and delivery variances as well as logistical issues associated with inclement weather conditions, from time to time we experience net unbalanced positions for short periods of time. In connection with managing these positions and maintaining a constant presence in the marketplace, both necessary for our core business, our policies provide that any net imbalance may not exceed 250,000 barrels. These activities are monitored independently by our risk management function and must take place within predefined limits and authorizations.

        LPG Exchanges.    We pursue exchange opportunities to enhance margins throughout the marketing process. When opportunities arise to increase our margin or to acquire a volume of LPG that more closely matches our physical delivery requirement or the preferences of our customers, we exchange physical LPG with third parties. These exchanges are effected through contracts called exchange or buy-sell agreements. Through an exchange agreement, we agree to buy LPG that differs in terms of geographic location, type of LPG or physical delivery schedule from LPG we have available for sale. Generally, we enter into exchanges to acquire LPG at locations that are closer to our end markets in order to meet the delivery specifications of our physical delivery contracts.

        Credit.    Our merchant activities involve the purchase of crude oil and LPG for resale and require significant extensions of credit by our suppliers of crude oil and LPG. In order to assure our ability to perform our obligations under crude oil purchase agreements, various credit arrangements are negotiated with our suppliers. These arrangements include open lines of credit directly with us, and standby letters of credit issued under our senior unsecured revolving credit facility.

        When we sell crude oil and LPG, we must determine the amount, if any, of the line of credit to be extended to any given customer. We manage our exposure to credit risk through credit analysis, credit approvals, credit limits and monitoring procedures. If we determine that a customer should receive a credit line, we must then decide on the amount of credit that should be extended.

        Because our typical crude oil sales transactions can involve tens of thousands of barrels of crude oil, the risk of nonpayment and nonperformance by customers is a major consideration in our business. We believe our sales are made to creditworthy entities or entities with adequate credit support. Generally, sales of crude oil are settled within 30 days of the month of delivery (in the case of foreign cargoes, typically 10 days after delivery), and pipeline, transportation and terminalling services also settle within 30 days from invoice for the provision of services.

        We also have credit risk with respect to our sales of LPG; however, because our sales are typically in relatively small amounts to individual customers, we do not believe that we have material concentration of credit risk. Typically, we enter into annual contracts to sell LPG on a forward basis, as well as sell LPG on a current basis to local distributors and retailers. In certain cases our customers prepay for their purchases, in amounts ranging from approximately $2 per barrel to 100% of their contracted amounts. Generally, sales of LPG are settled within 30 days of the date of invoice.

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Terminalling and Storage Operations

        We own approximately 37 million barrels of terminalling and storage assets. Approximately 13.6 million barrels of capacity are used in our GMT&S segment, and the remaining 23.4 million barrels are used in our Pipeline segment. Our storage and terminalling operations increase our margins in our business of purchasing and selling crude oil and also generate revenue through a combination of storage and throughput charges to third parties. Storage fees are generated when we lease tank capacity to third parties. Terminalling fees, also referred to as throughput fees, are generated when we receive crude oil from one connecting pipeline and redeliver crude oil to another connecting carrier in volumes that allow the refinery to receive its crude oil on a ratable basis throughout a delivery period. Both terminalling and storage fees are generally earned from:


        The tankage that is used to support our arbitrage activities positions us to capture margins in a contango market (when the oil prices for future deliveries are higher than the current prices) or when the market switches from contango to backwardation (when the oil prices for future deliveries are lower than the current prices).

        Our most significant terminalling and storage asset is our Cushing Terminal located at the Cushing Interchange. The Cushing Interchange is one of the largest wet-barrel trading hubs in the U.S. and the delivery point for crude oil futures contracts traded on the NYMEX. The Cushing Terminal has been designated by the NYMEX as an approved delivery location for crude oil delivered under the NYMEX light sweet crude oil futures contract. As the NYMEX delivery point and a cash market hub, the Cushing Interchange serves as a primary source of refinery feedstock for the Midwest refiners and plays an integral role in establishing and maintaining markets for many varieties of foreign and domestic crude oil. Our Cushing Terminal was constructed in 1993, with an initial tankage capacity of 2 million barrels, to capitalize on the crude oil supply and demand imbalance in the Midwest. The Cushing Terminal is also used to support and enhance the margins associated with our merchant activities relating to our lease gathering and bulk purchasing activities. See "—Gathering and Marketing Operations—Bulk Purchases." Since 1999, we have completed four separate expansion phases, which increased the capacity of the Cushing Terminal to a total of approximately 6.3 million barrels. The Cushing Terminal now consists of fourteen 100,000-barrel tanks, four 150,000-barrel tanks and sixteen 270,000-barrel tanks, all of which are used to store and terminal crude oil. In January 2005, we announced the commencement of our Phase V expansion that will add approximately 1.1 million barrels of storage capacity to our Cushing Terminal. The Cushing Terminal also includes a pipeline manifold and pumping system that has an estimated throughput capacity of approximately 800,000 barrels per day. The Cushing Terminal is connected to the major pipelines and other terminals in the Cushing Interchange through pipelines that range in size from 10 inches to 24 inches in diameter.

        The Cushing Terminal is designed to serve the needs of refiners in the Midwest. In order to service an increase in volumes and varieties of foreign and domestic crude oil projected to be transported through the Cushing Interchange, we incorporated certain attributes into the original design of the Cushing Terminal including:

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