UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

OR

 _________________________________________________________________

(214) 871-3555

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10‑K contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Form 10-K, including, but not limited to, those under “Business and Properties” in Items 1 and 2, “Risk Factors” in Item 1A, “Legal Proceedings” in Item 3 and “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements use words such as “anticipate,” “project,” “expect,” “plan,” “goal,” “forecast,” “intend,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “believe,” “may,” and similar expressions and statements regarding our plans and objectives for future operations. These statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions using currently available information and expectations as of the date hereof, are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties. All statements concerning our expectations for future results of operations are based on forecasts for our existing operations and do not include the potential impact of any future acquisitions. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that our expectations will prove to be correct. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied or forecast in these statements. Any differences could be caused by a number of factors including, but not limited to:

Cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are set forth in this Form 10-K, including without limitation the forward-looking statements that are referred to above. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements set forth in this Form 10-K under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A and in conjunction with the discussion in this Form 10-K in “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under the heading “Liquidity and Capital Resources.” All forward-looking statements included in this Form 10-K and all subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and, other than as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

DEFINITIONS

Within this report, the following terms have these specific meanings:

 

 

 

 

 

Items 1 and 2. Business and Properties

References herein to HollyFrontier Corporation (“HollyFrontier”) include HollyFrontier and its consolidated subsidiaries. In accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission's (“SEC”) “Plain English” guidelines, this Annual Report on Form 10-K has been written in the first person. In this document, the words “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer only to HollyFrontier and its consolidated subsidiaries or to HollyFrontier or an individual subsidiary and not to any other person, with certain exceptions. Generally, the words “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” include Holly Energy Partners, L.P. (“HEP”) and its subsidiaries as consolidated subsidiaries of HollyFrontier, unless when used in disclosures of transactions or obligations between HEP and HollyFrontier or its other subsidiaries. This document contains certain disclosures of agreements that are specific to HEP and its consolidated subsidiaries and do not necessarily represent obligations of HollyFrontier. When used in descriptions of agreements and transactions, “HEP” refers to HEP and its consolidated subsidiaries.

We merged with Frontier Oil Corporation (“Frontier”) on July 1, 2011. Concurrent with the merger, we changed our name from Holly Corporation (“Holly”) to HollyFrontier and changed the ticker symbol for our common stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange to “HFC.” Accordingly, this document includes Frontier, its consolidated subsidiaries and the operations of the merged Frontier businesses effective July 1, 2011, but not prior to this date.

On February 21, 2011, we entered into a merger agreement providing for a “merger of equals” business combination between us and Frontier. On July 1, 2011, North Acquisition, Inc., a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Holly, merged with and into Frontier, with Frontier surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holly. Subsequent to the merger and following approval by HollyFrontier's post-closing board of directors, Frontier merged with and into HollyFrontier, and HollyFrontier continued as the surviving corporation. This merger combined the legacy Frontier refinery operations consisting of refineries in El Dorado, Kansas (the “El Dorado Refinery”) and Cheyenne, Wyoming (the “Cheyenne Refinery”) with Holly’s legacy refinery operations to form HollyFrontier. The aggregate equity consideration paid in connection with the merger was $3.7 billion.

HEP is a consolidated variable interest entity ("VIE"(“VIE”) as defined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"(“GAAP”). Information on HEP's assets and acquisitions completed between 20102011 and 20122016 can be found under the “Holly Energy Partners, L.P.” section provided later in this discussion of Items 1 and 2, “Business and Properties.”

Our operations are currently organized into two reportable segments, Refining and HEP. The Refining segment includes the operations of our El Dorado, Tulsa, Navajo, Cheyenne and Woods Cross Refineries and NKHFC Asphalt. The HEP segment involves all of the operations of HEP. See Note 19 “Segment Information” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our reportable segments.

The tables presented below and elsewhere in this discussion of our refinery operations set forth information, including non-GAAP performance measures, about our refinery operations. The cost of products and refinery gross and net operating margins do not include the non-cash effects of lower of cost or market inventory valuation adjustments and depreciation and amortization. Reconciliations to amounts reported under GAAP are provided under “Reconciliations to Amounts Reported Under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” following Item 7A of Part II of this Form 10-K.

Light products are shipped to customers via product pipelines or are available for loading at our refinery truck facilities and terminals. Light products are also made available to customers at various other locations via exchange with other parties.

The following table sets forth information about our Mid-Continent region operations, including non-GAAP performance measures.

The El Dorado Refinery is located on 1,100 acres south of El Dorado, Kansas and is a fully integrated refinery. The principal processing units at the El Dorado Refinery consist of crude and vacuum distillation; hydrodesulfurization of naphtha, kerosene, diesel, and gas oil streams; isomerization; catalytic reforming; aromatics recovery; catalytic cracking; alkylation; delayed coking; hydrogen production; and sulfur recovery. Refining operations began at the site in 1917 and the operating units now present include both newly constructed units and older units that have been upgraded over the years. Supporting infrastructure includes maintenance shops, warehouses, office buildings, a laboratory, utility facilities, and a wastewater plant (“Supporting Infrastructure”) and logistics assets owned by HEP, which includes approximately 3.6 million barrels of tankage, a truck sales terminal, and a propane terminal.

The Tulsa West facility is located on a 750-acre site in Tulsa, Oklahoma situated along the Arkansas River. The principal processing units at the Tulsa West facility consist of crude and vacuum distillation (with light ends recovery), naphtha hydrodesulfurization, catalytic reforming, propane de-asphalting, lubes extraction, MEK dewaxing, delayed coker and butane splitter units. Most of the operating units at the facility currently in service were built in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The refinery was reconfigured to emphasize specialty lubricant production in the early 1990s. The Tulsa West facility's Supporting Infrastructure includes approximately 3.2 million barrels of feedstock and product tankage, of which 0.4 million barrels of tankage is owned by Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (“Plains”).

The Tulsa East facility is located on a 466-acre site also in Tulsa, Oklahoma situated along the Arkansas River. The principal process units at the Tulsa East facility consist of crude and vacuum distillation, naphtha hydrodesulfurization, FCC, isomerization, catalytic reforming, alkylation, scanfiner, diesel hydrodesulfurization and sulfur units. The Tulsa East facility's Supporting Infrastructure includes approximately 3.4 million barrels of tankage owned by HEP.

The primary markets for the El Dorado Refinery's refined products are Colorado and the Plains States, which include the Kansas City metropolitan area. The gasoline, diesel and jet fuel produced by the El Dorado Refinery are primarily shipped via pipeline to terminals for distribution by truck or rail. We ship product via the NuStar Pipeline Operating Partnership L.P. Pipeline to the northern Plains States, via the Magellan Pipeline Company, L.P. (“Magellan”) mountain pipeline to Denver, Colorado, and on the Magellan mid-continent pipeline to the Plains States. Additionally, HEP's on-site truck and rail racks facilitate access to local refined product markets.

The El Dorado Refinery faces competition from other Plains States and Mid-Continent refiners, but the principal competitors for the El Dorado Refinery are Gulf Coast refiners. Our Gulf Coast competitors typically have lower production costs due to greater economies of scale; however, they incur higher refined product transportation costs, which allows the El Dorado Refinery to compete effectively in the Plains States and Rocky Mountain region with Gulf Coast refineries.

The Tulsa Refineries serve the Mid-Continent region of the United States. Distillates and gasolines are primarily delivered from the Tulsa Refineries to market via pipelines owned and operated by Magellan. These pipelines connect the refinery to distribution channels throughout Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Arkansas. Additionally, HEP's on-site truck and rail racks facilitate access to local refined product markets.

The Tulsa Refineries' principal customers for conventional gasoline include Sinclair, other refiners, convenience store chains, independent marketers and retailers. Sinclair, truck stop operators and railroads are the primary diesel customers. Jet fuel is sold primarily for commercial use. The refinery's asphalt and roofing flux products are sold via truck or railcar directly from the refineries or to customers throughout the Mid-Continent region primarily to paving contractors and manufacturers of roofing products.

Our Tulsa West facility also produces specialty lubricant products sold in both commercial and specialty markets throughout North America and to customers with operations in Central America and South America. The specialty lubricant products are high-value products that provide a significantly higher margin contribution to the refinery. Base oil customers include blender-compounders who prepare the various finished lubricant and grease products sold to end users. Agricultural products are formulated as supplemental carriers for herbicides and as Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) registered pesticide oils, are sold to product formulators. Process oil customers include rubber and chemical industry customers. Specialty waxes are sold primarily to packaging customers as coating material for paper and cardboard, and to non-packaging customers in the construction materials, adhesive and candle-making markets. Our production represents approximately 6%5% of paraffinic oil capacity and 13%14% of wax production capacity in the United States market and is one of four refineries of specialty aromatic oils in North America.

Set forth below is information regarding the principal products produced at our El Dorado and Tulsa Refineries:

Both of our Mid-Continent Refineries are connected via pipeline to Cushing, Oklahoma, a significant crude oil pipeline trading and storage hub. The El Dorado Refinery and the Tulsa Refineries are located approximately 125 miles and 50 miles, respectively, from Cushing, Oklahoma. Local pipelines provide direct access to regional Oklahoma crude production as well as access to United States onshore Gulf of Mexico,and Canadian and other foreign crudes. The proximity of the refineries to the Cushing pipeline and storage hub provides the flexibility to optimize their crude slate with a wide variety of crude oil supply options. Additionally, we have transportation service agreements to transport Canadian crude oil on the Spearhead and Keystone Pipelines, enabling us to transport Canadian crude oil to Cushing for subsequent shipment to either of our Mid-Continent Refineries.

We also purchase isobutane, natural gasoline, butane and other feedstocks for processing at our Mid-Continent Refineries. The El Dorado Refinery is connected to Conway, Kansas, a major gas liquids trading and storage hub, via the Oneok Pipeline. From time to time, other feedstocks such gas oil, naphtha and light cycle oil are purchased from other refiners for use at our refineries.

The following table sets forth information about our Southwest region operations, including non-GAAP performance measures.

The Navajo Refinery's Artesia, New Mexico facility is located on a 561-acre site and is a fully integrated refinery with crude distillation, vacuum distillation, FCC, ROSE (solvent deasphalter), HF alkylation, catalytic reforming, hydrodesulfurization, mild hydrocracking, isomerization, sulfur recovery and product blending units. The operating units at the Artesia facility include newly constructed units, older units that have been relocated from other facilities and upgraded and re-erected in Artesia, and units that have been operating as part of the Artesia facility (with periodic major maintenance) for many years, in some very limited cases since before 1970. Supporting Infrastructure includes approximately 2.0 million barrels of feedstock and product tankage, of which 0.3 million barrels of tankage are owned by HEP.

The Artesia facility is operated in conjunction with a refining facility located in Lovington, New Mexico, approximately 65 miles east of Artesia. The principal equipment at the Lovington facility consists of a crude distillation unit and associated vacuum distillation units that were constructed after 1970. Supporting Infrastructure includes 1.1 million barrels of feedstock and product tankage of which 0.2 million barrels of tankage are owned by HEP. The Lovington facility processes crude oil into intermediate products that are transported to Artesia by means of three intermediate pipelines owned by HEP. These products are then upgraded into finished products at the Artesia facility. The combined crude oil capacity of the Navajo Refinery facilities is 100,000 BPSD and it typically processes or blends an additional 10,000 BPSD of natural gasoline, butane, gas oil and naphtha.

The Navajo Refinery primarily serves the southwestern United States market, which has historically experienced a high-growth rate, including the metropolitan areas of El Paso, Texas; Albuquerque, Moriarty and Bloomfield, New Mexico; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; and portions of northern Mexico. Our products are shipped through HEP's pipelines from Artesia, New Mexico to El Paso, Texas and from El Paso to Albuquerque and to Mexico via products pipeline systems owned by Magellan and from El Paso to Tucson and Phoenix via a products pipeline system owned by Kinder Morgan's subsidiary, SFPP, L.P. (“SFPP”). In addition, petroleum products from the Navajo Refinery are transported to markets in northwest New Mexico, to Moriarty, New Mexico, near Albuquerque, via HEP's pipelines running from Artesia to San Juan County, New Mexico, and to Bloomfield, New Mexico. We have refined product storage through our pipelines and terminals agreement with HEP at terminals in El Paso, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; and Artesia and Moriarty, New Mexico.

The El Paso market for refined products is currently supplied by a number of area and Gulf Coast refiners and pipelines. Area refiners include Navajo, WRB Refining, LLC (“WRB”) (a joint venture between Phillips 66 and Cenovus Energy), Valero, Alon USA, Inc. (“Alon”) and Western Refining. Pipelines serving this market are owned by Magellan, NuStar Energy L.P. and HEP. Refined products from the Gulf Coast are transported via Magellan pipelines.

The Arizona market for refined products is currently supplied by a number of refiners via pipelines and trucks. Refiners include companies located in west Texas, eastern New Mexico, northern New Mexico, the Gulf Coast and the West Coast. Magellan's pipeline systems deliver refined products from the Texas Gulf Coast to El Paso and, through interconnections with third-party common carrier pipelines, into the Arizona market.

The Artesia, Albuquerque, Moriarty and Bloomfield markets are supplied by a number of refiners via pipelines and trucks. Refiners include Navajo, Valero, Western Refining, Alon and WRB.

We use a common carrier pipeline out of El Paso to serve the Albuquerque market. In addition, HEP leases from Mid-America Pipeline Company, L.L.C., a pipeline between White Lakes, New Mexico and the Albuquerque vicinity and Bloomfield, New Mexico. The lease agreement currently runs through 2017, and HEP has options to renew for two additional ten-year periods. HEP owns and operates a 12-inch pipeline from the Navajo Refinery to the leased pipeline as well as terminalling facilities in Moriarty, which is 40 miles east of Albuquerque. This facility permits us to ship light products to the Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico areas. In addition, we serve southern Colorado and northern Arizona primarily out of a terminal in Bloomfield, New Mexico, which is owned by Western Refining.

Set forth below is information regarding the principal products produced at our Navajo Refinery:

The Navajo Refinery is situated near the Permian Basin, an area that has historically, and continues to have, abundant supplies of crude oil available both for regional users and for export to other areas. We purchase crude oil from independent producers in southeastern New Mexico and west Texas as well as from major oil companies. The crude oil is gathered through HEP's pipelines ourand through third-party tank trucks and through third-party crude oil pipeline systems for delivery to the Navajo Refinery.

We also purchase volumes of isobutane, natural gasoline and other feedstocks to supply the Navajo Refinery from sources in Texas and the Mid-Continent area that are delivered to our region on a common carrier pipeline owned by Enterprise Products, L.P. Ultimately all volumes of these products are shipped to the Artesia refining facilities on HEP's intermediate pipelines running from Lovington to Artesia. From time to time, we purchase gas oil, naphtha and light cycle oil from other refiners for use as feedstock.

The following table sets forth information about our Rocky Mountain region operations, including non-GAAP performance measures.

The Cheyenne Refinery facility is located on a 255-acre site and is a fully integrated refinery with crude distillation, vacuum distillation, coking, FCC, HF alkylation, catalytic reforming, hydrodesulfurization of naphtha and distillates, butane isomerization, hydrogen production, sulfur recovery and product blending units. The operating units at the Cheyenne Refinery include both newly constructed units and older units that have been upgraded over the years. Supporting Infrastructure includes approximately 1.9 million barrels of feedstock and product tankage owned by HEP.

The Woods Cross Refinery facility is located on a 200-acre site and is a fully integrated refinery with crude distillation, solvent deasphalter, FCC, HF alkylation, catalytic reforming, hydrodesulfurization, isomerization, sulfur recovery and product blending units. The operating units at the Woods Cross Refinery include newly constructed units, older units that have been relocated from other facilities, upgraded and re-erected in Woods Cross, and units that have been operating as part of the Woods Cross facility (with periodic major maintenance) for many years, in some very limited cases since before 1950. Supporting Infrastructure includes approximately 1.5 million barrels of feedstock and product tankage, of which 0.2 million barrels of tankage are owned by HEP. The facility typically processes or blends an additional 2,000 BPSD of natural gasoline, butane and gas oil over its 31,000 BPSD capacity.

We own and operate 4 miles of hydrogen pipeline that connects the Woods Cross Refinery to a hydrogen plant located on the property of Chevron's Salt Lake City Refinery. Additionally, HEP owns and operates 12 miles of crude oil and refined products pipelines that allows us to connect our Woods Cross Refinery to common carrier pipeline systems.

Engineering and construction continueConstruction continues on our previously announcedexisting expansion project to increase planned processing capacity to 45,000 BPSD at a cost currently expected to range between $350.0 million and $400.0 million. The expansion is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2015. This project work includes new refining facilities and a new rail loading rack for intermediates and finished products associated with refining waxy crude oil. This initial phase of the project is expected to cost $420.0 million and is planned to be put into operation during the first quarter of 2016. An additional investment of $20.0 million is being made to allow for greater crude slate flexibility, which we believe will increase capacity utilization and improve overall economic returns during periods when wax crudes are in short supply. Further discussion of this project can be found in “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under Liquidity and Capital Resources.

We have signed a 10-year, 20,000 BPD crude oil supply agreement with Newfield Exploration Company. This agreement which commences upon completion of the expansion, will supply black and yellow wax crude oil produced in the nearby Uinta Basin to the Woods Cross Refinery. Upon completion of thisthe expansion, the Woods Cross Refinery's capacity to process waxy crude is expected to double to approximately 24,000 BPD.

The Cheyenne Refinery primarily markets its products in eastern Colorado, including metropolitan Denver, eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska. Because of the location of the Cheyenne Refinery, we are able to sell a significant portion of its diesel directly from the truck rack at the refinery, therefore, eliminating transportation costs. The Cheyenne Refinery ships refined products via the Magellan pipeline serving Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The most competitive market for the Cheyenne Refinery is the Denver metropolitan area. Three other refineries supply the Denver market: Wyoming refineries near Rawlins and in Casper owned by Sinclair and a refinery in Denver owned by Suncor. Five product pipelines also supply Denver, including three from outside the region.

The Woods Cross Refinery's primary market is Utah, which is currently supplied by a number of local refiners and the Pioneer Pipeline. In addition to our Woods Cross Refinery, local area refiners include Chevron, Tesoro, Big West and Silver Eagle. Other refiners that ship into the Woods Cross market via the Pioneer Pipeline include Sinclair, ExxonMobil, CHS and Phillips 66. We estimate the four local refineries that compete with our Woods Cross Refinery have a combined capacity to process approximately 150,000 BPD of crude oil. The five Utah refineries collectively supply an estimated 70% of the gasoline and distillate products consumed in the states of Utah and Idaho, with the remainder imported from refineries in Wyoming and Montana via the Pioneer Pipeline owned jointly by Sinclair and Phillips 66. Approximately 40% - 45% of the gasoline and diesel fuel produced by our Woods Cross Refinery is sold through a network of Phillips 66 branded marketers under a long-term supply agreement.

We supply a small percentage of the refined products consumed in the combined Idaho, Wyoming, eastern Washington and Nevada markets. Our Woods Cross Refinery ships refined products over a common carrier pipeline system owned by Tesoro Logistics Northwest Pipelines LLC (“Tesoro Logistics”) to numerous terminals, including HEP's terminal at Spokane, Washington and to terminals at Pocatello and Boise, Idaho and Pasco, Washington that are owned by Tesoro Logistics. We sell to branded and unbranded customers in these markets. In 2012, we began shipping refined products to Cedar City, Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada via the UNEV Pipeline. The majority of the Las Vegas, Nevada market for refined products is supplied by various West Coast refiners and suppliers via Kinder Morgan's CalNev common carrier pipeline system.

Set forth below is information regarding the principal products produced at our Cheyenne and Woods Cross Refineries:

Crude oil is transported to the Cheyenne Refinery from suppliers in Canada, Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota and Montana via common carrier pipelines owned by Kinder Morgan,Spectra, Plains and Suncor Energy, as well as by truck. The Woods Cross Refinery currently obtains crude oil from suppliers in Canada, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado as delivered via common carrier pipelines that originate in Canada, Wyoming and Colorado. We also receive crude oil via the SLC Pipeline, a joint venture common carrier pipeline in which HEP owns a 25% interest. Supplies of black wax crude oil are shipped via truck.

We manufacture commodity and modified asphalt products at our manufacturing facilities located in Glendale, Arizona; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Artesia, New Mexico and Catoosa, Oklahoma. Our Albuquerque and Artesia facilities manufacture modified hot asphalt products and commodity emulsions from base asphalt materials provided by our refineries and third-party suppliers. Our Glendale facility manufactures modified hot asphalt products from base asphalt materials provided by our refineries and third-party suppliers. Our Catoosa facility manufactures specialty modified asphalt and commodity asphalt products. We market these asphalt products in Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and northern Mexico. Our products are shipped via third-party trucking companies to commercial customers that provide asphalt based materials for commercial and government projects.

HEP is a Delaware limited partnership that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “HEP.” HEP was formed to acquire, ownowns and operate substantially alloperates logistic assets consisting of the refinedpetroleum product pipeline and terminalling assetscrude oil pipelines, terminals, tankage, loading rack facilities and refinery processing units that principally support our refining and marketing operations in the Mid-Continent, Southwest and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States.States and Alon's refinery in Big Spring, Texas. Additionally, HEP owns a 75% interest in UNEV Pipeline, LLC (“UNEV”), the owner of a pipeline running from Woods Cross, Utah to Las Vegas, Nevada (the “UNEV Pipeline”) and associated product terminals, a 50% interest in Frontier Pipeline Company, the owner of a pipeline running from Wyoming to Frontier Station, Utah (the “Frontier Pipeline”), and a 25% interest in SLC Pipeline, LLC, the owner of a pipeline (the “SLC Pipeline”) that serves refineries in the Salt Lake City, Utah area.

HEP generates revenues by charging tariffs for transporting petroleum products and crude oil through its pipelines, by leasing certain pipeline capacity to Alon, by charging fees for terminalling and storing refined products and other hydrocarbons and by storing and providing other services at its storage tanks, terminals and terminals.refinery processing units. HEP does not take ownership of products that it transports, terminals, stores or terminals;refines; therefore, it is not directly exposed to changes in commodity prices.

On July 12, 2012, HEP acquired from us our 75% interest in UNEV. We received consideration consisting of $260.0 million in cash and 1.0 million HEP common units. UNEV owns the UNEV Pipeline, a 12-inch refined products pipeline running from Salt Lake City, Utah to Las Vegas, Nevada together with terminal facilities in Cedar City, Utah and North Las Vegas. The UNEV Pipeline was completed in late 2011 and became operational during the first quarter of 2012.

On November 9, 2011, HEP acquired from us certain tankage, loading rack and crude receiving assets located at our El Dorado and Cheyenne Refineries. We received non-cash consideration consisting of promissory notes with an aggregate principal amount of $150.0 million and 3.8 million HEP common units.

Since HEP is a consolidated entity, ourOur transactions with HEP including the transactions discussed above and fees paid under our transportation agreements with HEP and UNEV a consolidated subsidiary of HEP, are eliminated and have no impact on our consolidated financial statements.

HEP has a 15-year pipelines and terminals agreement with Alon expiring in 2020, under which Alon has agreed to transport on HEP's pipelines and throughput through its terminals, volumes of refined products that results in a minimum level of annual revenue. The agreed upon tariff rates are increased or decreased annually at a rate equal to the percentage change in PPI, but will not decrease below the initial tariff rate. Also, HEP has a capacity lease agreement with Alon under which Alon leases space on HEP's Orla to El Paso pipeline for the shipment of up to 15,000 barrels of refined product per day. The terms under this agreement expire in 2018 through 2022.

We lease approximately 60,000 square feet for our principal corporate offices in Dallas, Texas. The lease for our principal corporate offices expires in 2021. Functions performed in the Dallas office include overall corporate management, refinery and HEP management, planning and strategy, corporate finance, crude acquisition, logistics, contract administration, marketing, investor relations, governmental affairs, accounting, tax, treasury, information technology, legal and human resources support functions.

Refinery and pipeline operations are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws regulating the discharge of substances into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment. Permits or other authorizations are required under these laws for the operation of our refineries, pipelines and related facilities, and these permits and authorizations are subject to revocation, modification and renewal. Over the years, there have been ongoing communications, including notices of violations, about environmental matters between us and federal and state authorities, some of which have resulted or will result in changes to operating procedures and in capital expenditures. Compliance with applicable environmental laws, regulations and permits will continue to have an impact on our operations, the results of our operations, and our capital requirements. We believe that our current operations are in substantial compliance with applicable federal, state, and local environmental laws, regulations, and permits.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (“EISA”) prescribe certain percentages of renewable fuels (e.g., ethanol and biofuels) that, where required, must be blended into our produced gasoline and diesel. The Renewable Fuel Standard 2 (“RFS2”) regulations, finalized by the EPA in 2010 to implement the EISA, requires that most refiners blend increasing amounts of biofuels with refined products through 2022. Because the EISA requires specified volumes of biofuels, if the demand for motor fuels decreases in future years, even higher percentages of biofuels may be required. Alternatively, credits called Renewable Identification Numbers (“RINs”) can be used instead of physically blending biofuels. The price of RINS has been subject to extreme volatility over the years and costs to purchase RINs can be significant.

Additional changes in fuel standards with respect to sulfur content of gasoline, called Tier 3 standards, to reduce vehicle emissions were finalized in 2014. These new requirements, other requirements of the CAA, and other presently existing or future environmental regulations may cause us to make substantial capital expenditures and purchase credits at significant cost to enable our refineries to produce products that meet applicable requirements.

EPA rules require us to report GHG emissions from our refinery operations and consumer use of fuel products produced at our refineries on an annual basis. While the cost of compliance with the reporting rule is not material, data gathered under the rule may be used in the future to support additional regulation of GHG. Moreover, the EPA directly regulating greenhouse gasregulates GHG emissions from refineries although recent statementsand other major sources through the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (“PSD”) and Federal Operating Permit (“Title V”) programs. In June 2014, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the EPA may not require PSD and Title V permits solely because of GHG emissions, but may require Best Available Control Technology (“BACT”) for GHG emissions above a certain threshold if emissions of other pollutants would otherwise require PSD permitting. While this decision does not impose any limits or controls on GHG emissions from EPA Administrator McCarthy indicatecurrent operations, GHG emission increases from future projects or operational changes, such as capacity increases, may be impacted and required to meet emission limits or technological requirements pertaining to GHG emissions, such as BACT. Severe limitations on GHG emissions could also adversely affect demand for the gasoline that issuancewe produce. Finally, it should be noted that some scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHGs in the Earth’s atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such Performance Standard is not imminent. Proposals both expandingas increased frequency and limiting the EPA's authority in this area continueseverity of storms, floods and other climatic events; if any such effects were to be considered in Congress. Litigation challenging the EPA's authority over greenhouse gas emissions also is pending in federal court.occur, they could have an adverse effect on our operations.

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”), also known as “Superfund,” imposes liability, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on certain classes of persons, including the current and past owner or operator of the disposal site or sites from which there is a release of a “hazardous substance,” as well as persons that disposed of or arranged for the disposal or treatment of the hazardous substances at the site or sites. Under CERCLA, such persons may be subject to joint and several liability for such costs as the cost of cleaning up the hazardous substances that have been released into the environment and for damages to natural resources. In the course of our historical operations, as well as in our current normal operations, we have generated waste, some of which falls within the statutory definition of a “hazardous substance” and some of which may have been disposed of at sites that may be subject to cleanup and cost recovery actions under CERCLA by a government entity or other third party. Similarly, locations now owned or operated by us, where third parties have disposed such hazardous substances in the past, may also be subject to cleanup and cost recovery actions under CERCLA. Under CERCLA, liable parties may seek contribution from other liable parties to share in the costs of cleanup. Some states have enacted laws similar to CERCLA which impose similar responsibilities and liabilities on responsible parties. It is also not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims under state law for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by hazardous substances or other pollutants released into the environment.

We are and have been the subject of various state, federal and private proceedings and inquiries relating to compliance with environmental regulations and conditions, including those discussed above. Compliance with current and future environmental regulations is expected to require additional expenditures, including expenditures for investigation and remediation, which may be significant, at our refineries and at pipeline transportation facilities. To the extent that future expenditures for these purposes are material and can be reasonably determined, these costs are disclosed and accrued, if applicable.

HealthOccupational health and environmental legislation, regulations and regulationsregulatory programs change frequently. We cannot predict what additional occupational health and environmental legislation or regulations will be enacted or become effective in the future or how existing or future laws or regulations will be administered or interpreted with respect to our operations. Compliance with more stringent laws or regulations or adverse changes in the interpretation of existing laws or regulations by government agencies could have an adverse effect on our financial position and the results of our operations and could require substantial expenditures for the installation and operation of systems and equipment that we do not currently possess.

Our operations are subject to hazards of operations, including fire, explosion and weather-related perils. We maintain various insurance coverages, including business interruption insurance, subject to certain deductibles. We are not fully insured against certain risks because such risks are not fully insurable, coverage is unavailable, or premium costs, in our judgment, do not justify such expenditures.

We have a risk management oversight committee that is made upconsisting of members from our senior management. This committee oversees our risk enterprise program, monitors our risk environment and provides direction for activities to mitigate identified risks that may adversely affect the achievement of our goals.

Investing in us involves a degree of risk, including the risks described below. Our operating results have been, and will continue to be, affected by a wide variety of risk factors, many of which are beyond our control, that could have adverse effects on profitability during any particular period. You should carefully consider the following risk factors together with all of the other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the financial statements and related notes, when deciding to invest in us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business operations. If any of the following risks were to actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

The headings provided in this Item 1A. are for convenience and reference purposes only and shall not affect or limit the extent or interpretation of the risk factors.

Among these factors is the demand for crude oil and refined products, which is largely driven by the conditions of local and worldwide economies as well as by weather patterns and the taxation of these products relative to other energy sources. Governmental regulations and policies, particularly in the areas of taxation, energy and the environment, also have a significant impact on our activities. Operating results can be affected by these industry factors, product and crude pipeline capacities, crude oil differentials (including regional and grade differentials), changes in transportation costs, accidents or interruptions in transportation, competition in the particular geographic areas that we serve, and factors that are specific to us, such as the success of particular marketing programs and the efficiency of our refinery operations. The demand for crude oil and refined products can also be reduced due to a local or national recession or other adverse economic condition that results in lower spending by businesses and consumers on gasoline and diesel fuel, higher gasoline prices due to higher crude oil prices, a shift by consumers to more fuel-efficient vehicles or alternative fuel vehicles (such as ethanol or wider adoption of gas/electric hybrid vehicles), or an increase in vehicle fuel economy, whether as a result of technological advances by manufacturers, legislation mandating or encouraging higher fuel economy or the use of alternative fuel.

We do not produce crude oil and must purchase all our crude oil, the price of which fluctuates based upon worldwide and local market conditions. Our profitability depends largely on the spread between market prices for refined petroleum products and crude oil prices. This margin is continually changing and may fluctuate significantly from time to time. Crude oil and refined products are commodities whose price levels are determined by market forces beyond our control. For example, the reversal of certain existing pipelines or the construction of certain new pipelines transporting additional crude oil or refined products to markets that serve competing refineries could affect the market dynamic that has allowed us to take advantage of favorable pricing. Also, in December 2015, the U.S. Congress lifted the ban on the ability of producers to export domestic crude oil. This could potentially impact crack spreads and price differentials between domestic and foreign crude oils. A deterioration of crack spreads or price differentials between domestic and foreign crude oils could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

To maintain or increase production levels at our refineries, we must continually contract for crude oil supplies from third parties. A material decrease in crude oil production from the fields that supply our refineries, as a result of depressed commodity prices, lack of drilling activity, natural production declines or otherwise, could result in a decline in the volume of crude oil available to our refineries. In addition, any prolonged disruption of a significant pipeline that is used in supplying crude oil to our refineries or the potential operation of a new, converted or expanded crude oil pipeline that transports crude oil to other markets could result in a decline in the volume of crude oil available to our refineries. Such an event could result in an overall decline in volumes of refined products processed at our refineries and therefore a corresponding reduction in our cash flow. In addition, the future growth of our operations will depend in part upon whether we can contract for additional supplies of crude oil at a greater rate than the rate of natural decline in our currently connected supplies. If we are unable to secure additional crude oil supplies of sufficient quality or crude pipeline expansion to our refineries, we will be unable to take full advantage of current and future expansion of our refineries' production capacities.

We may not be able to successfully execute our business strategies to grow our business. Further, if we are unable to complete capital projects at their expected costs or in a timely manner, if we are unsuccessful in integrating the operations of assets we acquire, or if the market conditions assumed in our project economics deteriorate, our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.

One of the ways we may grow our business is through the construction of new refinery processing units (or the purchase and refurbishment of used units from another refinery) and the expansion of existing ones. Projects are generally initiated to increase the yields of higher-value products, increase the amount of lower cost crude oils that can be processed, increase refinery production capacity, meet new governmental requirements, or maintain the operations of our existing assets. Additionally, our growth strategy includes projects that permit access to new and/or more profitable markets. The construction process involves numerous regulatory, environmental, political, and legal uncertainties, most of which are not fully within our control, including:

If we are unable to complete capital projects at their expected costs or in a timely manner our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows could be materially and adversely affected. Delays in making required changes or upgrades to our facilities could subject us to fines or penalties as well as affect our ability to supply certain products we make. In addition, our revenues may not increase immediately upon the expenditure of funds on a particular project. For instance, if we build a new refinery processing unit, the construction will occur over an extended period of time and we will not receive any material increases in revenues until after completion of the project. Moreover, we may construct facilities to capture anticipated future growth in demand for refined products in a region in which such growth does not materialize. As a result, new capital investments may not achieve our expected investment return, which could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.

Our forecasted internal rates of return are also based upon our projections of future market fundamentals which are not within our control, including changes in general economic conditions, available alternative supply and customer demand.

An additional component of our growth strategy is to selectively acquire complementary assets for our refining operations in order to increase earnings and cash flow. Our ability to do so will be dependent upon a number of factors, including our ability to identify attractive acquisition candidates, consummate acquisitions on favorable terms, successfully integrate acquired assets and obtain financing to fund acquisitions and to support our growth, and other factors beyond our control. Risks associated with acquisitions include those relating to:

Any acquisitions that we do consummate may have adverse effects on our business and operating results.

Refinery and pipeline operations are subject to federal, state and local laws regulating, among other things, the generation, storage, handling, use and transportation of petroleum and hazardous substances by pipeline, truck, rail and barge, the emission and discharge of materials into the environment, waste management, and characteristics and composition of gasoline and diesel fuels, and other matters otherwise relating to the protection of the environment. Permits or other authorizations are required under these laws for the operation of our refineries, pipelines and related operations, and these permits and authorizations are subject to revocation, modification and renewal or may require operational changes, which may involve significant costs. Furthermore, a violation of permit conditions or other legal or regulatory requirements could result in substantial fines, criminal sanctions, permit revocations, injunctions, and/or refinery shutdowns. In addition, major modifications of our operations due to changes in the law could require changes to our existing permits or expensive upgrades to our existing pollution control equipment, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations. For example, in October 2015, the EPA lowered the NAAQS for ozone from 75 to 70 parts per billion for both the 8-hour primary and secondary standards. State implementation of the revised NAAQS could result in stricter permitting requirements, delay or prohibit our ability to obtain such permits, and result in increased expenditures for pollution control equipment, the costs of which could be significant. Also, in December 2015, the EPA issued a final rule, effective February 2016, that amends three refinery standards already in effect, imposing additional or, in some cases, new emission control requirements on subject refineries. The final rule requires, among other things, benzene monitoring at the refinery fence line and submittal of fence line monitoring data to the EPA on a quarterly basis; upgraded storage tank controls requirements, including new applicability thresholds; enhanced performance requirements for flares, continuous monitoring of flares and pressure release devices and analysis and remedy of flare release events; and compliance with emissions standards for delayed coking units. Over the years, there have been ongoing communications, including notices of violations, about environmental matters between us and federal and state authorities, some of which have resulted or will result in changes to operating procedures and in capital expenditures. Compliance with applicable environmental laws, regulations and permits will continue to have an impact on our operations, results of our operations and capital requirements.

As is the case with all companies engaged in industries similar to ours, we face potential exposure to future claims and lawsuits involving environmental matters. The matters include, but are not limited to, soil, groundwater and waterway contamination, air pollution, personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by substances which we manufactured, handled, used, released or disposed.

We are and have been the subject of various state, federal and private proceedings relating to environmental regulations, conditions and inquiries. Current and future environmental regulations are expected to require additional expenditures, including expenditures for investigation and remediation, which may be significant, at our facilities. To the extent that future expenditures for these purposes are material and can be reasonably determined, these costs are disclosed and accrued.

Our operations are also subject to various laws and regulations relating to occupational health and safety. We maintain safety, training and maintenance programs as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Compliance with applicable health and safety laws and regulations has required and continues to require substantial expenditures. Failure to appropriately manage occupational health and safety risks associated with our business could also adversely impact our employees, communities, stakeholders, reputation and results of operations.

From time to time, new federal energy policy legislation is enacted by the U.S. Congress. For example, in December 2007, the U.S. Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act, which, among other provisions, mandates annually increasing levels for the use of renewable fuels such as ethanol, commencing in 2008 and escalating for 15 years, as well as increasing energy efficiency goals, including higher fuel economy standards for motor vehicles, among other steps. These statutory mandates may have the impact over time of offsetting projected increases in the demand for refined petroleum products in certain markets, particularly gasoline. In the near term, the new renewable fuel standard presents ethanol production and logistics challenges for both the ethanol and refining industries and may require additional capital expenditures or expenses by us to accommodate increased ethanol use. Other legislative changes may similarly alter the expected demand and supply projections for refined petroleum products in ways that cannot be predicted.

For additional information on regulations and related liabilities or potential liabilities affecting our business, see “Regulation” under Items 1 and 2, “Business and Properties,” and Item 3, “Legal Proceedings.”

In December 2009, the EPA determined that emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other GHGsgreenhouse gas emissions, or “GHGs,” present an endangerment to public health and the environment because emissions of such gases are, according to the EPA, contributing to warming of the earth's atmosphere and other climatic changes. Based on these findings, the EPA has begun adopting and implementing regulations to restrict emissions of GHGs under existing provisions of the federal CAA. For example, the EPA adopted rules that require certain large stationary sources to obtain permits to authorize emissions of GHGs. The EPA’s rules relating to emissions of GHGs from large stationary sources of emissions were, for the most part, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2014. The EPA has also adopted rules requiring the reporting of GHG emissions from specified large GHG emission sources in the United States, including petroleum refineries, on an annual basis. The EPA has also announced its intention to issue a New Source Performance Standard directly regulating GHG emissions from refineries, although recent statements from EPA Administrator McCarthy indicate that issuance of such Performance Standard is not imminent..

In addition, the U.S. Congress has from time to time considered adopting legislation to reduce emissions of GHGs and almost one-half of the states have already taken legal measures to reduce emissions of GHGs primarily through the planned development of GHG emission inventories and/or regional GHG cap and trade programs. These cap and trade programs generally work by requiring major sources of emissions, such as electric power plants, or major producers of fuels, such as refineries and gas processing plants, to acquire and on an annual basis surrender emission allowances. The number of allowances available for purchase is reduced over time in an effort to achieve the overall GHG emission reduction goal.

The adoption of legislation or regulatory programs to reduce emissions of GHGs could require us to incur increased operating costs, such as costs to purchase and operate emissions control systems, to acquire emissions allowances or comply with new regulatory or reporting requirements. Any such legislation or regulatory programs could also increase the cost of consuming, and thereby reduce demand for, the refined products that we produce. Consequently, legislation and regulatory programs to reduce emissions of GHGs could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, some scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHGs in the Earth's atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts, floods and other climatic events. If any such events were to occur, they could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. 

Our operations are subject to catastrophic losses, operational hazards and unforeseen interruptions such as natural disasters, adverse weather, accidents, fires, explosions, hazardous materials releases, cyber-attacks, power failures, mechanical failures and other events beyond our control. These events mightcould result in aan injury, loss of equipment or life, injury, or extensive property damage or destruction, of property, as well as a curtailment or an interruption in our operations and may affect our ability to meet marketing commitments.

We may not be able to maintain significantor obtain insurance of the type and amount we desire at reasonable rates and exclusions from coverage but it doesmay limit our ability to recover the amount of the full loss in all situations. As a result of market conditions, premiums and deductibles for certain of our insurance policies could increase. In some instances, certain insurance could become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage. We are not coverfully insured against all potential losses, costs or liabilities, andrisks incident to our business interruption insurance coverage generally does not apply unless a business interruption exceeds 45 days.and therefore, we self-insure certain risks. If any refinery were to experience an interruption in operations, earnings from the refinery could be materially adversely affected (to the extent not recoverable through insurance) because of lost production and repair costs.

The energy industry is highly capital intensive, and the entire or partial loss of individual facilities can result in significant costs to both industry companies, such as us, and their insurance carriers. In recent years, several large energy industry claims have resulted in significant increases in the level of premium costs and deductible periods for participants in the energy industry. As a result of large energy industry claims, insurance companies that have historically participated in underwriting energy-related facilities may discontinue that practice or demand significantly higher premiums or deductible periods to cover these facilities. If significant changes in the number or financial solvency of insurance underwriters for the energy industry occur, or if other adverse conditions over which we have no control prevail in the insurance market, we may be unable to obtain and maintain adequate insurance at reasonable cost. In addition, we cannot assure you that our insurers will renew our insurance coverage on acceptable terms, if at all, or that we will be able to arrange for adequate alternative coverage in the event of non-renewal. Further, our underwriters could have credit issues that affect their ability to pay claims. The unavailability of full insurance coverage to cover events in which we sufferIf a significant lossesaccident or event occurs that is self-insured or not fully insured, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Pursuant to the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, the EPA promulgated the RFS2 regulations reflecting the increased volume of renewable fuels mandated to be blended into the nation's fuel supply. The regulations, in part, require refiners to add annually increasing amounts of “renewable fuels” to their petroleum products or purchase credits, known as renewable identification numbers (“RINs”),RINs, in lieu of such blending. We currently purchase RINs for some fuel categories on the open market in order to comply with the quantity of renewable fuels we are required to blend under the RFS2. Recently, due in part to the nation's fuel supply approaching the “blend wall” (the 10% ethanol limit prescribed by most automobile warranties), the price of RINs has been extremely volatile with the price dramatically increasing in recognition of the decrease in RINs availability. While we cannot predict the future prices of RINs, the costs to obtain the necessary number of RINs could be material. If we are unable to pass the costs of compliance with the RFS2 on to our customers, if sufficient RINs are unavailable for purchase, if we have to pay a significantly higher price for RINs or if we are otherwise unable to meet the RFS2 mandates, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. Additionally,

In addition, the RFS2 regulations are highly complex and evolving, requiring us to periodically update our compliance systems. The RFS2 regulations require the EPA has not yet finalizedto determine and publish the 2014applicable annual volume and percentage standards under its RFS2 program. Whenfor each compliance year by November 30 for the EPA ultimately finalizes the requiredforthcoming year, and such blending percentages for 2014, such levels could be higher or lower than amounts estimated and accrued for in our consolidated financial statementsstatements. The future cost of RINs is difficult to estimate until such time as the EPA finalizes the applicable standards for the forthcoming compliance year. We cannot predict with certainty our exposure to increased RINs costs in the future, nor can we predict the extent by which costs associated with RFS2 will impact our future results of December 31, 2014.operations.

We compete with a broad range of refining and marketing companies, including certain multinational oil companies. Because of their geographic diversity, larger and more complex refineries, integrated operations and greater resources, some of our competitors may be better able to withstand volatile market conditions, to obtain crude oil in times of shortage and to bear the economic risks inherent in all areas of the refining industry.

We are not engaged in petroleum exploration and production activities and do not produce any of the crude oil feedstocks used at our refineries. We do not have a retail business and therefore are dependent upon others for outlets for our refined products. Certain of our competitors, however, obtain a portion of their feedstocks from company-owned production and have retail outlets. Competitors that have their own production or extensive retail outlets, with brand-name recognition, are at times able to offset losses from refining operations with profits from producing or retailing operations, and may be better positioned to withstand periods of depressed refining margins or feedstock shortages.

In recent years there have been several refining and marketing consolidations or acquisitions between entities competing in our geographic market. These transactions could increase the future competitive pressures on us.

The markets in which we compete may be impacted by competitors' plans for expansion projects and refinery improvements that could increase the production of refined products in our areas of operation and significantly affect our profitability.

Also, the potential operation of new or expanded refined product transportation pipelines, or the conversion of existing pipelines into refined product transportation pipelines, could impact the supply of refined products to our existing markets and negatively affect our profitability.

In addition, we compete with other industries that provide alternative means to satisfy the energy and fuel requirements of our industrial, commercial and individual consumers. The more successful these alternatives become as a result of governmental regulations, technological advances, consumer demand, improved pricing or otherwise, the greater the impact on pricing and demand for our products and our profitability. There are presently significant governmental and consumer pressures to increase the use of alternative fuels in the United States.

We utilize various common carrier or other third party pipeline systems to deliver our products to market. The key systems utilized by the Cheyenne, El Dorado, Navajo, Woods Cross, and Tulsa Refineries are Rocky Mountain, NuStar Energy, SFPP and Plains, Chevron, and Magellan, respectively. All five refineries also utilize systems owned by HEP. If these key pipelines or their associated tanks and terminals become inoperative or decrease the capacity available to us, we may not be able to sell our product, or we may be required to hold our product in inventory or supply products to our customers through an alternative pipeline or by rail or additional tanker trucks from the refinery, all of which could increase our costs and result in a decline in profitability.

Information technology system failures, network disruptions (whether intentional by a third party or due to natural disaster), breaches of network or data security, or disruption or failure of the network system used to monitor and control pipeline operations could disrupt our operations by impeding our processing of transactions, our ability to protect customer or company information and our financial reporting. Our computer systems, including our back-up systems, could be damaged or interrupted by power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, internal or external security breaches, events such as fires, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes, and/or errors by our employees. There can be no assurance that a system failure or data security breach will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The domestic and global financial markets and economic conditions are disrupted and volatile from time to time due to a variety of factors, including low consumer confidence, high unemployment, geoeconomic and geopolitical issues, weak economic conditions and uncertainty in the financial services sector. In addition, the fixed-income markets have experienced periods of extreme volatility, which negatively impacted market liquidity conditions. Recently, the equity and debt markets for many energy industry companies have been adversely affected by low oil prices. As a result, the cost of raising money in the debt and equity capital markets has increased substantially at times while the availability of funds from these markets diminished significantly. In particular, as a result of concerns about the stability of financial markets generally and the solvency of lending counterparties specifically, the cost of obtaining money from the credit markets may increase as many lenders and institutional investors increase interest rates, enact tighter lending standards, refuse to refinance existing debt on similar terms or at all and reduce, or in some cases cease, to provide funding to borrowers. In addition, lending counterparties under any existing revolving credit facility and other debt instruments may be unwilling or unable to meet their funding obligations, or we may experience a decrease in our capacity to issue debt or obtain commercial credit or a deterioration in our credit profile, including a rating agency lowering or withdrawing of our credit ratings if, in its judgment, the circumstances warrant. Due to these factors, we cannot be certain that new debt or equity financing will be available on acceptable terms. If funding is not available when needed, or is available only on unfavorable terms, we may be unable to meet our obligations as they come due or we may be required to sell assets. Moreover, without adequate funding, we may be unable to execute our growth strategy, complete future acquisitions or construction projects, take advantage of other business opportunities or respond to competitive pressures, comply with regulatory requirements, or meet our short-term or long-term working capital requirements, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and results of operations. Failure to comply with regulatory requirements in a timely manner or meet our short-term or long-term working capital requirements could subject us to regulatory action.

We currently own a 39% interest in HEP, including the 2% general partner interest. HEP operates a system of crude oil and petroleum product pipelines, distribution terminals and refinery tankage in Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. HEP generates revenues by charging tariffs for transporting petroleum products and crude oil through its pipelines, leasing certain pipeline capacity to Alon, charging fees for terminalling refined products and other hydrocarbons and storing and providing other services at its terminals. HEP serves the Cheyenne, El Dorado, Navajo, Woods Cross and Tulsa Refineries under several long-term pipeline and terminal, tankage and throughput agreements expiring in 2019 through 2026.2026 and serves the El Dorado Refinery under long-term tolling agreements expiring in 2030. Furthermore, our financial statements include the consolidated results of HEP. HEP is subject to its own operating and regulatory risks, including, but not limited to:

The occurrence of any of these risks could directly or indirectly affect HEP's as well as our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows as HEP is a consolidated VIE. Additionally, these risks could affect HEP's ability to continue operations which could affect their ability to serve our supply and distribution network needs.

We are subject to risks of loss resulting from nonpayment or nonperformance by our customers. We derive a significant portion of our revenues from contracts with key customers.

If any of our key customers default on their obligations to us, our financial results could be adversely affected. Furthermore, some of our customers may be highly leveraged and subject to their own operating and regulatory risks. In addition, nonperformance by vendors who have committed to provide us with products or services could result in higher costs or interfere with our ability to successfully conduct our business.

Any substantial increase in the nonpayment and/or nonperformance by our customers or vendors could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows.

The long-term impacts of terrorist attacks, such as the attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, and the threat of future terrorist attacks (including cyber-attacks) on the energy transportation industry in general, and on us in particular, are not known at this time.unknown. Increased security measures taken by us as a precaution against possible terrorist attacks or vandalism have resulted in increased costs to our business. Future terrorist attacks could lead to even stronger, more costly initiatives or regulatory requirements. Uncertainty surrounding continued global hostilities or other sustained military campaigns, may affect our operations in unpredictable ways, including disruptions of crude oil supplies and markets for refined products, and the possibility that infrastructure facilities could be direct targets of, or indirect casualties of, an act of terror.terror, may affect our operations in unpredictable ways, including disruptions of crude oil supplies and markets for refined products. In addition, disruption or significant increases in energy prices could result in government-imposed price controls. Any one of, or a combination of, these occurrences could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Changes in the insurance markets attributable to terrorist attacks could make certain types of insurance more difficult for us to obtain. Moreover, the insurance that may be available to us may be significantly more expensive than our existing insurance coverage. Instability in the financial markets as a result of terrorism or war could also affect our ability to raise capital including our ability to repay or refinance debt.

In 2010, the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) finalized new standards, raising the required Corporate Average Fuel Economy (“CAFE”) of the nation's passenger fleet by 40% to approximately 35 miles per gallon (“m.p.g.”) by 2016 and imposing the first-ever federal GHG emissions standards on cars and light trucks. In September 2011, the EPA and the Department of Transportation finalized first-time standards for fuel economy of medium and heavy duty trucks. On August 28, 2012, the EPA and NHTSA adopted standards through model year 2025 in two phases. The first phase establishes final standards for 2017-2021 model year vehicles that are projected to require 40.3 - 41.0 m.p.g. in model year 2021 on an average industry fleet-wide basis. The second phase of the CAFE program represents non-final “augural” standards for 2022-2025 model year vehicles that are projected to require 48.7 - 49.7 m.p.g. in model year 2025, on an average industry fleet-wide basis. Such increases in fuel economy standards, along with mandated increases in use of renewable fuels discussed above, could result in decreasing demand for petroleum fuels. Decreasing demand for petroleum fuels could have a material effect on our financial condition and results of operation.

The refining business is characterized by high fixed costs resulting from the significant capital outlays associated with refineries, terminals, pipelines and related facilities. We are dependent on the production and sale of quantities of refined products at refined product margins sufficient to cover operating costs, including any increases in costs resulting from future inflationary pressures or market conditions and increases in costs of fuel and power necessary in operating our facilities. Furthermore, future major capital investment, various environmental compliance related projects, regulatory requirements or competitive pressures could result in additional capital expenditures, which may not produce a return on investment. Such capital expenditures may require significant financial resources that may be contingent on our access to capital markets and commercial bank loans. Additionally, other matters, such as regulatory requirements or legal actions, may restrict our access to funds for capital expenditures.

Our refineries consist of many processing units, a number of which have been in operation for many years. One or more of the units may require unscheduled downtime for unanticipated maintenance or repairs that are more frequent than our scheduled turnaround for such units. Scheduled and unscheduled maintenance could reduce our revenues during the period of time that the units are not operating. We have taken significant measures to expand and upgrade units in our refineries by installing new equipment and redesigning older equipment to improve refinery capacity. The installation and redesign of key equipment at our refineries involves significant uncertainties, including the following: our upgraded equipment may not perform at expected throughput levels; operating costs of the upgraded equipment may be higher than expected; the yield and product quality of new equipment may differ from design and/or specifications and redesign, modification or replacement of the equipment may be required to correct equipment that does not perform as expected, which could require facility shutdowns until the equipment has been redesigned or modified. Any of these risks associated with new equipment, redesigned older equipment, or repaired equipment could lead to lower revenues or higher costs or otherwise have a negative impact on our future financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, we expect to execute turnarounds at our refineries, which involve numerous risks and uncertainties. These risks include delays and incurrence of additional and unforeseen costs. The turnarounds allow us to perform maintenance, upgrades, overhaul and repair of process equipment and materials, during which time all or a portion of the refinery will be under scheduled downtime.

We will only be able to pay dividends from our available cash on hand, cash from operations or borrowings under our credit agreement. The declaration of future regular and/or special dividends on our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including our results of operations, financial condition, earnings, capital requirements, and restrictions in our debt agreements and legal requirements. We cannot assure you that any dividends will be paid or the frequency or amounts of such payments.

A significant portion of our operating responsibility on refined product pipelines is to insure the quality and purity of the products loaded at our loading racks. If our quality control measures were to fail, we may have contaminated or off-specification commingled pipelines and storage tanks or off-specification product could be sent to public gasoline stations. These types of incidents could result in product liability claims from our customers.

Product liability is a significant commercial risk. Substantial damage awards have been made in certain jurisdictions against manufacturers and resellers based upon claims for injuries caused by the use of or exposure to various products. There can be no assurance that product liability claims against us would not have a material adverse effect on our business or results of operations or our ability to maintain existing customers or retain new customers.

We periodically enter into derivative transactions as it relates to inventory levels and/or future production to manage the risks from changes in the prices of crude oil, refined products and other feedstocks. These transactions limit our potential gains if commodity prices move above or below the certain price levels established by our hedging instruments. We hedge price risk on inventories above our target levels to minimize the impact these price fluctuations have on our earnings and cash flows. Consequently, our hedging results may fluctuate significantly from one reporting period to the next depending on commodity price fluctuations and our relative physical inventory positions. These transactions may also expose us to risks of financial losses; for example, if our production is less than we anticipated at the time we entered into a hedge agreement or if a counterparty to our hedge agreements fails to perform its obligations under the agreements.

An unfavorable credit profile, or a significant increase in the price of crude oil, could affect the way crude oil suppliers view our ability to make payments and induce them to shorten the payment terms of their invoices with us or require credit enhancement. Due to the large dollar amounts and volume of our crude oil and other feedstock purchases, any imposition by our suppliers of more burdensome payment terms or credit enhancement requirements on us may have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and our ability to make payments to our suppliers. This in turn could cause us to be unable to operate our refineries at desired capacity. A failure to operate our refineries at desired capacity could adversely affect our profitability and cash flow.

The operating and financial restrictions and covenants in our credit facility and any future financing agreements could adversely affect our ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to engage, expand or pursue our business activities. For example, our revolving credit facility imposes usual and customary requirements for this type of credit facility, including: (i) limitations on liens and indebtedness; (ii) a prohibition on changes in control and (iii) restrictions on engaging in mergers and consolidations. If we fail to satisfy the covenants set forth in the credit facility or another event of default occurs under the credit facility, the maturity of the loan could be accelerated or we could be prohibited from borrowing for our future working capital needs and issuing letters of credit. We might not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these immediate payments. If we desire to undertake a transaction that is prohibited by the covenants in our credit facility, we will need to obtain consent under our credit facility. Such refinancing may not be possible or may not be available on commercially acceptable terms.

Our future performance depends to a significant degree upon the continued contributions of our senior management team and key technical personnel. We do not currently maintain key man life insurance, non-compete agreements, or employment agreements with respect to any member of our senior management team. The loss or unavailability to us of any member of our senior management team or a key technical employee could significantly harm us. We face competition for these professionals from our competitors, our customers and other companies operating in our industry. To the extent that the services of members of our senior management team and key technical personnel would be unavailable to us for any reason, we may be required to hire other personnel to manage and operate our company. We may not be able to locate or employ such qualified personnel on acceptable terms, or at all.

Furthermore, our operations require skilled and experienced laborers with proficiency in multiple tasks. A shortage of trained workers due to retirements or otherwise could have an adverse impact on our labor productivity and costs and our ability to expand production in the event there is an increase in the demand for our products and services, which could adversely affect our operations.

The market price of our common stock may be influenced by many factors, some of which are beyond our control, including:

In recent years, the stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant impact on the market price of securities issued by many companies, including companies in our industry. The price of our common stock could fluctuate based upon factors that have little or nothing to do with our company, and these fluctuations could materially reduce our stock price.

We do not have any unresolved staff comments.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

Commitment and Contingency Reserves

We periodically establish reserves for certain legal proceedings. The establishment of a reserve involves an estimation process that includes the advice of legal counsel and subjective judgment of management. While management believes these reserves to be adequate, future changes in the facts and circumstances could result in the actual liability exceeding the estimated ranges of loss and amounts accrued.

While the outcome and impact on us cannot be predicted with certainty, based on advice of counsel, management believes that the resolution of these proceedings through settlement or adverse judgment will not either individually or in the aggregate have a materially adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Environmental Matters

We are reporting the following proceedings to comply with SEC regulations which require us to disclose proceedings arising under federal, state or local provisions regulating the discharge of materials into the environment or protecting the environment if we reasonably believe that such proceedings may result in monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more. Our respective subsidiaries have or will develop corrective action plans regarding these disclosures that will be implemented in consultation with the respective federal and state agencies. It is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of these proceedings, although none are currently expected to have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

HollyFrontier Cheyenne Refining LLC (“FR”HFCR”), our wholly-owned subsidiary, completed certain environmental audits at the Cheyenne Refinery regarding compliance with federal and state environmental requirements. By letters dated October 5, 2012, November 7, 2012, and January 10, 2013, and pursuant to the EPA's audit policy to the extent applicable, FRHFCR submitted reports to the EPA voluntarily disclosing non-compliance with certain emission limitations, reporting requirements, and provisions of a 2009 federal consent decree. By letters dated October 31, 2012,2012; February 6, 2013,2013; June 21, 2013,2013; July 9, 2013 and July 25, 2013, and pursuant to applicable Wyoming audit statutes, FRHFCR submitted environmental audit reports to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (“WDEQ”) voluntarily disclosing non-compliance with certain notification, reporting, and other provisions of the refinery's state air permit and other environmental regulatory requirements. Additional self-disclosures and follow-up correspondence are anticipated as the audit activities are completed. No further action has been taken by either agency at this time. TheIn early 2016, the Cheyenne Refinery also has onesettled an outstanding Notice of Violations issued in January 2013 that is subjectfor a non-material amount.

HollyFrontier Tulsa Refining LLC (“HFTR”) manufactures paraffin and hydrocarbon waxes at its Tulsa West facility. On March 11, 2014, the EPA issued a notice to ongoing settlement negotiationsHFTR of possible violations of certain provisions of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act in connection with the WDEQ.manufacture of certain of these products. HFTR and the EPA met and are working productively towards a settlement of this matter.

Between November 2010 and February 2012, certain of our subsidiaries submitted multiple reports to the EPA to voluntarily disclose non-compliance with fuels regulations at the Cheyenne, El Dorado, Navajo, Tulsa and Woods Cross refineriesRefineries and at the Cedar City, Utah and Henderson, Colorado terminals. Our subsidiaries have complied with all EPA requests for additional information regarding the voluntary disclosures. The EPA and our subsidiaries are now engaged inconcluded settlement discussions with the EPA that mayin order to resolve the voluntarily disclosed non-compliance events.

We are a party to various other litigation and proceedings that we believe, based on advice of counsel, will not either individually or in the aggregate have a materially adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Not Applicable.

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “HFC.” The following table sets forth the range of the daily high and low sales prices per share of common stock, dividends declared per share and the trading volume of common stock for the periods indicated:

We intend to consider the declaration of a dividend on a quarterly basis, although there is no assurance as to future dividends since they are dependent upon future earnings, capital requirements, our financial condition and other factors. Our senior notes limit the payment of dividends at any time we are not rated investment grade by both Moody's and Standard & Poor's. See Note 11 “Debt” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table shows our selected financial information as of the dates or for the periods indicated. This table should be read in conjunction with Item 7, “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

This Item 7 contains “forward-looking” statements. See “Forward-Looking Statements” at the beginning of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In this document, the words “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer only to HollyFrontier and its consolidated subsidiaries or to HollyFrontier or an individual subsidiary and not to any other person with certain exceptions. Generally, the words “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” include HEP and its subsidiaries as consolidated subsidiaries of HollyFrontier, unless when used in disclosures of transactions or obligations between HEP and HollyFrontier or its other subsidiaries. This document contains certain disclosures of agreements that are specific to HEP and its consolidated subsidiaries and do not necessarily represent obligations of HollyFrontier. When used in descriptions of agreements and transactions, “HEP” refers to HEP and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Overview

We are principally an independent petroleum refiner that produces high-value refined products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, specialty lubricant products, and specialty and modified asphalt. We own and operate refineries having a combined nameplate crude oil processing capacity of 443,000 barrels per day that serve markets throughout the Mid-Continent, Southwest and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States. Our refineries are located in El Dorado, Kansas (the El Dorado Refinery), Tulsa, Oklahoma (the Tulsa Refineries), which comprise two production facilities, the Tulsa West and East facilities, a petroleum refinery in Artesia, New Mexico, which operates in conjunction with crude, vacuum distillation and other facilities situated 65 miles away in Lovington, New Mexico (the(collectively, the Navajo Refinery), Cheyenne, Wyoming (the Cheyenne Refinery) and Woods Cross, Utah (the Woods Cross Refinery).

For the year, our reliability and process safety initiatives drove our refinery utilization rate to 97.6%, the highest level achieved since our merger and a 6% increase compared to 2014. Additionally, improved operational reliability, cost management efforts and lower natural gas costs contributed to a 7% reduction in operating expenses to $1,060.4 million and gross refining margins increased to $16.07. Together, strong operational performance, improved realized margins and lower operating costs drove a 74% increase in earnings per share compared to 2014 (exclusive of inventory valuation charges).

OUTLOOK

Our profitability is affected by the spread, or differential, between the market prices for crude oil on the world market (which is based on the price for Brent, North Sea Crude) and the price for inland U.S. crude oil (which is based on the price for WTI). We expect continued volatility in the pricing relationship between inland and coastal crude. After reaching paritycrude, which is currently averaging in early 2015, we've already recently witnessed the inland/coastal crude differential widenrange of $1.00 to more than $9.00$(1.00) per barrel. We believe new inbound pipeline capacity, current storage economics and upcoming refinery maintenance activity should continue to drive Cushing inventories higher and spreads wider throughout 2015.

Pursuant to the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, the EPA promulgated the RFS2 regulations, which increased the volume of renewable fuels mandated to be blended into the nation's fuel supply. The regulations, in part, require refiners to add annually increasing amounts of “renewable fuels” to their petroleum products or purchase credits, known as RINs, in lieu of such blending. Our RINs costs are material and represent a cost of products sold. The price of RINs may be extremely volatile as observed in 2013, when prices escalated sharply due to real or perceived future shortages in RINs. Although our RINs costs remain material, the price of RINs has decreased significantly from 2013 highs, due in part to regulatory easing of the 2014 annual Renewable Volume Obligation, or RVO. As of December 31, 2014,2015, we are purchasing RINs in order to meet approximately half of our renewable fuel requirements. Additionally, the EPA has not yet finalized the 2014 percentage standards under its RFS2 program. We cannot predict with certainty our exposure to increased RINs costs in the future, nor can we predict the extent by which costs associated with RFS2 will impact our future results of operations.

Results Of Operations