|
Quotes & Info
|
| EP > SEC Filings for EP > Form 10-Q on 10-Aug-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
10-Aug-2009
Quarterly Report
The information contained in Item 2 updates, and you should read it in
conjunction with, information disclosed in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K,
and the financial statements and notes presented in Item 1 of this Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q.
Currently, these plans include:
• Capital Expenditures. Planned 2009 capital expenditures of approximately
$3.2 billion, with $2.1 billion of capital being spent in our pipeline
business and approximately $1.0 billion in our exploration and production
business (see Liquidity and Capital Resources).
In our pipeline business, in July 2009, we entered into a binding agreement
with several infrastructure funds managed by Global Infrastructure Partners
(GIP), whereby they will invest up to $700 million in our Ruby pipeline
project in the following three major tranches (i) a loan of $405 million to
be advanced as a series of loans on and after the initial closing (which is
expected to occur in August 2009), which would be converted into preferred
equity in a holding company for the Ruby pipeline project ("Ruby") upon
satisfaction of certain conditions, (ii) $145 million contributed in or
around October 2009 as a convertible preferred equity interest in Ruby that
may be simultaneously exchanged for a convertible preferred equity interest
in a holding company of Cheyenne Plains Gas Pipeline ("Cheyenne Plains") and
(iii) up to an additional $150 million contributed at the time of financing
closing to the extent required. The convertible preferred equity interest in
Ruby will earn a 13 percent yield beginning at final project completion. GIP
will have the right to convert its preferred equity to common equity at any
time. However, the preferred equity is subject to a mandatory conversion to
common equity upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including Ruby
entering into additional firm transportation agreements.
If all conditions to closing are satisfied or waived, then at the time of project completion, GIP would own a 50% equity interest in Ruby and all ownership in Cheyenne Plains would be transferred back to us. We will provide security for GIP's investment until the completion of the Ruby Pipeline project that will include a portion of our approximately 55 million El Paso Pipeline Partners, L.P. common units, our equity interest in Ruby and our equity interest in Cheyenne Plains. If the closings associated with the project financing or the project completion do not occur by certain dates, there are provisions in the agreements to unwind the transactions, including the repayment of the loan and the redemption of GIP's interests in Ruby and Cheyenne Plains with a return on its investment. Additionally, if such closings do not occur, then GIP has the option to retain a 50% common interest in Cheyenne Plains.
In our exploration and production business, although it will also impact our near-term growth profile in this business, the objective of reductions in our capital program is to retain substantially all of our existing natural gas and oil resource positions for future exploration and production when commodity prices and oilfield service costs return to more favorable levels.
• Asset Sales. We have sold or are evaluating the sale of several non-core assets generating cash proceeds of approximately $0.3 billion in 2009, nearly all of which have already been completed.
• Other Liquidity Sources. We will continue to be opportunistic in generating additional liquidity, which may include additional asset sales or additional partnering opportunities on expansion projects. To the extent these opportunities are delayed or cannot be completed, there is a further decline in commodity prices or we experience other major disruptions in the financial markets, we could also pursue other alternatives, including additional reductions in our discretionary capital program, further reductions in operating and general and administrative expenses, additional financing arrangements, seeking additional partners for other growth projects or selling additional non-core assets.
Our plans were determined based on a number of factors, the most significant
of which are described below and in further detail in our 2008 Annual Report on
Form 10-K:
• Debt Capital Structure. Our debt capital structure is 84 percent fixed
interest rates and 16 percent floating interest rates. Accordingly, we
believe we have lessened exposure to market changes in interest rates on our
existing debt which impact our interest costs.
• Revenue and Price Sensitivities. As previously discussed, we have mitigated our sensitivity to commodity prices with approximately three-fourths of our pipeline revenues collected in the form of demand or reservation charges and through derivative contracts in our exploration and production business. As noted above, we have significant derivative contracts in place for our 2009 natural gas and oil production. We have also entered into derivative contracts on a substantial portion of our anticipated 2010 and 2011 natural
gas production to mitigate exposure to low commodity prices; however, we continue to have some commodity price exposure remaining. Finally, in the event of lower oil or natural gas prices, we currently have unencumbered exploration and production properties and reserves that we could pledge as additional collateral towards the revolving credit facilities at our exploration and production subsidiary should this be necessary based on revaluation of our borrowing base under this facility in November 2009.
• Counterparty Risk. We continue to monitor the financial situation of our major lenders, derivative counterparties, customers, joint interest partners, vendors and suppliers, and enforce our contractual rights with regard to obtaining collateral or providing credit.
• Lending Institutions. As of June 30, 2009, we have determined the potential exposure to a loss of available capacity under our credit agreements, due to our assessment of our lenders' ability to fund, to be approximately $31 million from El Paso's $1.5 billion revolving credit facility, approximately $2 million from EPEP's $1.0 billion revolving credit facility, and approximately $15 million under EPB's $750 million credit facility.
Quarters Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2009 2008 2009 2008
(In millions)
Segment
Pipelines $ 327 $ 295 $ 723 $ 676
Exploration and Production 61 304 (1,624 ) 546
Marketing 10 (153 ) 62 (213 )
Power (21 ) 12 (17 ) 10
Segment EBIT 377 458 (856 ) 1,019
Corporate and other 31 41 24 80
Consolidated EBIT 408 499 (832 ) 1,099
Interest and debt expense (253 ) (221 ) (508 ) (454 )
Income tax benefit (expense) (66 ) (87 ) 460 (235 )
Net income (loss) attributable to El
Paso Corporation 89 191 (880 ) 410
Net income attributable to
noncontrolling interests 11 7 23 16
Net income (loss) $ 100 $ 198 $ (857 ) $ 426
|
Pipelines Segment
Overview and Operating Results. During the first six months of 2009, we
continued to deliver strong operational and financial performance across all
pipelines. Our EBIT for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2009 increased
11 percent and 7 percent from the same periods for 2008. In the first six months
of 2009, we benefited from several expansion projects placed in service in 2008.
Below are the operating results for our Pipelines segment as well as a
discussion of factors impacting EBIT for the periods ended June 30, 2009 and
2008, or that could potentially impact EBIT in future periods.
Quarters Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2009 2008 2009 2008
(In millions, except for volumes)
Operating revenues $ 650 $ 646 $ 1,383 $ 1,366
Operating expenses (365 ) (383 ) (731 ) (746 )
Operating income 285 263 652 620
Other income, net 53 40 94 73
EBIT before adjustment for
noncontrolling interests 338 303 746 693
Net income attributable to
noncontrolling interests (11 ) (8 ) (23 ) (17 )
EBIT $ 327 $ 295 $ 723 $ 676
Throughput volumes (BBtu/d)(1) 17,929 17,981 18,817 18,652
|
(1) Throughput volumes include our proportionate share of unconsolidated affiliates and exclude intrasegment activities.
Quarter Ended June 30, 2009 Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
Variance Variance
Operating Operating EBIT Operating Operating EBIT
Revenue Expense Other Impact Revenue Expense Other Impact
Favorable/(Unfavorable)
(In millions)
Expansions $ 20 $ (5 ) $ 13 $ 28 $ 39 $ (11 ) $ 21 $ 49
Reservation and usage
revenues 3 - - 3 30 - - 30
Gas not used in
operations and
revaluations (7 ) 17 - 10 (7 ) 11 - 4
Bankruptcy
settlements (12 ) (2 ) - (14 ) (41 ) (2 ) - (43 )
Loss on long-lived
assets - 8 - 8 - 24 - 24
Hurricanes - (2 ) - (2 ) - (5 ) - (5 )
Net income
attributable to
noncontrolling
interests - - (3 ) (3 ) - - (6 ) (6 )
Other(1) - 2 - 2 (4 ) (2 ) - (6 )
Total impact on EBIT $ 4 $ 18 $ 10 $ 32 $ 17 $ 15 $ 15 $ 47
|
(1) Consists of individually insignificant items on several of our pipeline systems.
Expansions. During 2009, we benefited from increased reservation revenues and
throughput volumes due to projects placed in-service throughout 2008 including
the Kanda lateral project, the Medicine Bow expansion and the High Plains
Pipeline.
We continue to make progress on our backlog of expansion projects and have
placed two projects in-service during the second quarter of 2009. We have spent
$0.6 billion during the six months ended June 30, 2009. Our backlog of expansion
projects are substantially fully contracted with customers and will be placed
in-service over the next five years. In addition, financings have been completed
to fund our $1.7 billion expansion capital plan in 2009 and a substantial
portion of the capital needs for the Gulf LNG and Florida Gas Transmission Phase
VIII projects. Over the next twelve months, we expect several projects to be
placed in-service representing $0.9 billion of the expansion backlog.
Additionally, listed below are significant updates to our December 31, 2008
backlog of projects originally discussed in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10K.
• Colorado Interstate Gas Company (CIG) Raton 2010 Expansion. During the first
quarter of 2009, we agreed with our customers to defer the in-service date
for our Raton 2010 project from June 2010 to December 2010.
• Totem Gas Storage. In June 2009, our Totem Gas Storage project was placed in-service.
• TGP 300 Line Expansion. In July 2009, we filed an application with the FERC for certificate authorization for our 300 Line Expansion project.
• Ruby Pipeline Project. In June 2009, the FERC issued a draft Environmental Impact Study. A final environmental impact statement is scheduled to be issued in October 2009. Final sizing of the project will be based on market support. In July 2009, we entered into a binding agreement with GIP, whereby they will invest up to $700 million in the Ruby pipeline project as further discussed in Overview and Outlook above.
• Elba Expansion III/ Elba Express/ Cypress Phase III. On June 25, 2009, BG LNG Services LLC (BG) and SNG, Elba Express (EEC) and Southern LNG, Inc. entered into agreements to delay the in-service date of the Elba III Phase B expansion project. The modified agreements give BG the option to delay the in-service date of the Elba III Phase B expansion to as late as the end of 2015, or, in the event certain conditions are unable to be met by BG, to terminate the Elba III Phase B expansion. In exchange for allowing this delay/termination option, BG has committed to subscribe to certain firm Phase B capacity on El Paso's Elba Express pipeline and to potentially provide certain rate considerations on an existing transportation contract on El Paso's SNG Pipeline. In addition, BG has given up its right to proceed with Phase III of the Cypress Expansion Project on SNG.
In addition to our backlog of contracted organic growth projects, we have
other projects that are in various phases of commercial development, two of
which are noted below. Many of the potential projects involve expansion capacity
to serve increased natural gas-fired generation loads, as well as new supply
projects.
• Potential Power Plant Loads. SNG has executed a non-binding letter of intent
with Florida Power & Light (FPL) to expand SNG's system by approximately 600
MMcf/d by constructing approximately 375 miles of 36-inch pipeline from
western Alabama to northern Florida. The expansion is currently estimated to
cost approximately $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion and would serve, in part,
two oil-fired power plants that FPL plans to convert to natural gas usage.
However, Southern Union (a 50% owner of Florida Gas Transmission along with
us) has alleged that SNG does not have the right to participate in the
project.
Along the Front Range of CIG's system, utilities have various projects under
development that involve constructing new natural gas-fired generation in part
to provide backup capacity required when renewable generation is not available
during certain daily or seasonal periods.
• Potential Supply Projects. TGP's system is located over a significant
portion of the Marcellus Basin that is under various phases of development
by producers. TGP has executed firm transportation contracts with shippers
from the basin utilizing its existing capacity. In addition, TGP has been in
discussions with producers to expand its system to provide additional
transportation capacity from the Marcellus Basin.
Most of our potential expansion projects would have in-service dates for 2014 and beyond. If we are successful in contracting for these new projects, the capital requirements could be substantial and would be incremental to our backlog of contracted organic growth projects. Although we pursue the development of these potential projects from time to time, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in negotiating the definitive binding contracts necessary for such projects to be included in our backlog of contracted organic growth projects.
Reservation and Usage Revenues. During the quarter and six months ended
June 30, 2009, our overall EBIT was favorably impacted by (i) increased
reservation and other services revenues on our EPNG system during the first six
months of 2009 primarily resulting from higher contracted capacity to primary
delivery points in California and an increase in EPNG's tariff rates effective
January 1, 2009, subject to refund, which was partially offset by decreased
usage revenues primarily due to reduced throughput in 2009, (ii) increased
revenues for the mainline and lateral capacity on our Rocky Mountain region
systems primarily due to new contracts and restructured contract terms and
(iii) additional capacity sales in the southern, central, and northern regions
of our TGP system.
For the six months ended June 30, 2009, our throughput volumes on our TGP and
EPNG systems decreased compared with the same period in 2008. This was due, in
part, to general weakness in natural gas demand in the United States, including
in the southwest and northeast. Although fluctuations in throughput on our
pipeline systems have a limited effect on our short-term results since a
material portion of our revenues are derived from firm reservation charges, it
can be an indication of the risks we may face when seeking to recontract or
renew any of our existing firm transportation contracts. Continuing negative
economic impacts on demand, as well as adverse shifting of sources of supply,
could negatively impact basis differentials and our ability to renew firm
transportation contracts that are expiring on our system or our ability to renew
such contracts at current rates. If we determine there is a significant change
in our costs or billing determinants on any of our pipeline systems, we will
have the option to file rate cases with the FERC to recover our prudently
incurred costs.
Gas Not Used in Operations and Revaluations. During the six months ended
June 30, 2009, our revenue was favorably impacted by approximately $15 million
primarily due to higher average prices realized on operational sales of gas not
used in our TGP system, partially offset by $5 million related to replacement of
depleted storage volumes in our SNG system, among other items.
In addition, during the six months ended June 30, 2008, we recorded fuel
cost and revenue tracker adjustments associated with the implementation of
FERC-approved fuel and related gas cost recovery mechanisms by CIG and Wyoming
Interstate Company during 2008. The implementation of these mechanisms was
protested by a limited number of shippers. On July 31, 2009, the FERC issued an
order on rehearing that effectively unwound the non-volumetric provisions of
CIG's fuel and gas cost recovery mechanism, which we believe could expose us to
both positive and negative fluctuations in gas prices in the future. This price
volatility may impact our earnings through the periodic non-cash revaluation of
our fuel imbalances and their eventual cash settlement, along with other impacts
to related gas balance items. We are currently evaluating the impact of this
order on our fuel recovery mechanism, and have not yet determined if we will
file for a judicial appeal of the FERC rehearing order.
Bankruptcy Settlements. During the quarter and six months ended June 30,
2008, we recognized revenue of $6 million and $35 million related to
distributions received under Calpine Corporation's approved plan of
reorganization. This settlement was related to Calpine's rejection of its
transportation contracts with us. During the second quarter of 2008, we recorded
income of approximately $8 million as a result of settlements received from the
Enron Corporation bankruptcy.
Loss on Long-Lived Assets. During the quarter and six months ended June 30,
2008, we recorded impairments of $8 million and $24 million, primarily related
to our Essex-Middlesex Lateral project due to a prolonged permitting process.
Hurricanes. We continue to repair damages to sections of our Gulf Coast and
. . .
|
|