UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

   
For Quarter Ended March 31, 20032004
 Commission File Number 0-31095

DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
   
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
 76-0632293
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

370 17th Street, Suite 9002500
Denver, Colorado 80202

(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)

303-595-3331
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Act. NooYes [  ] No [x]



x

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risks
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
SIGNATURES
CERTIFICATIONS
CERTIFICATIONS
EXHIBIT INDEX
EX-10.01 364-Day Credit Facility
EX-10.02 Letter Agreement for Short-Term Loan
EX-99.1 Certification Pursuant to 18 USC Sec. 1350
EX-99.2 Certification Pursuant to 18 USC Sec. 1350


DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 20032004

INDEX

          
Item    Page

    
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
    
 1.  Financial Statements  1 
     Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002  1 
     Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002  2 
     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002  3 
     Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002  4 
     Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements  5 
 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations  16 
 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risks  24 
 4.  Controls and Procedures  27 
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
    
 1.  Legal Proceedings  28 
 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K  28 
    Signatures  29 
    Certifications  30 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     Our reports, filings and other public announcements may from time to time contain statements that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. Such statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can typically identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking words, such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “potential,” “plan,” “forecast” and other similar words.

     All of such statements other thanthat are not statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements.

     These forward-looking statements reflect our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside our control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include known and unknown risks. Known risks include, but are not limited to, the following:

 x our ability to access the debtcapital and equitybank markets, which will depend on general market conditions and ourthe credit ratings for our debt obligations;
 
 x our use of derivative financial instruments to hedge commodity and interest rate risks;
 
 x the level of creditworthiness of counterparties to transactions;
 
 x the amount of collateral required to be posted from time to time in our transactions;


 x changes in laws and regulations, particularly with regard to taxes, safety and protection of the environment or the increased regulation of the gathering and processing industry;
364-Day Credit Facility
Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement
Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 302
Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 302
Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 1350
Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 1350

i


 x the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices, interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and demand for our services;
 
 x weather and other natural phenomena;
 
 x industry changes, including the impact of consolidations, and changes in competition;
 
 x our ability to obtain required approvals for construction or modernization of gathering and processing facilities, and the timing of production from such facilities, which are dependent on the issuance by federal, state and municipal governments, or agencies thereof, of building, environmental and other permits, the availability of specialized contractors and work force and prices of and demand for products;
 
 x the extent of success in connecting natural gas supplies to gathering and processing systems;
 
 the effect of accounting policies issued periodically by accounting standard-setting bodies; and
x general economic conditions, including any potential effects arising from terrorist attacks the situation in Iraq and any consequential hostilities or other hostilities.hostilities; and
xThe effect of accounting pronouncements issued periodically by accounting standard-setting bodies.

     In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a different time than we have described. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ii


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
(millions)
             
      Three Months Ended,
      March 31,
      
      2003 2002
      
 
OPERATING REVENUES:        
 Sales of natural gas and petroleum products $1,508,381  $631,838 
 Sales of natural gas and petroleum products—affiliates  950,402   421,091 
 Transportation, storage and processing  82,071   69,577 
 Trading and marketing net margin  (34,194)  7,309 
   
   
 
    Total operating revenues  2,506,660   1,129,815 
   
   
 
COSTS AND EXPENSES:        
  Purchases of natural gas and petroleum products  1,979,562   789,367 
  Purchases of natural gas and petroleum products—affiliates  216,064   91,844 
  Operating and maintenance  110,170   107,960 
  Depreciation and amortization  77,616   73,759 
  General and administrative  39,431   39,157 
  Other  (98)  5,188 
   
   
 
    Total costs and expenses  2,422,745   1,107,275 
   
   
 
OPERATING INCOME  83,915   22,540 
EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES  12,054   6,070 
INTEREST EXPENSE  42,738   43,309 
   
   
 
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND CUMULATIVE        
 EFFECT OF CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES  53,231   (14,699)
INCOME TAX EXPENSE  1,769   2,301 
   
   
 
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES  51,462   (17,000)
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES  22,802    
   
   
 
NET INCOME (LOSS)  28,660   (17,000)
DIVIDENDS ON PREFERRED MEMBERS’ INTEREST  4,750   7,125 
   
   
 
EARNINGS (DEFICIT) AVAILABLE FOR MEMBERS’ INTEREST $23,910  $(24,125)
   
   
 
         
  Three Months Ended
  March 31,
  2004
 2003
Operating Revenues:        
Sales of natural gas and petroleum products $1,721  $1,616 
Sales of natural gas and petroleum products to affiliates  611   924 
Transportation, storage and processing  68   61 
Trading and marketing net margin  2   (34)
   
 
   
 
 
Total operating revenues  2,402   2,567 
   
 
   
 
 
Costs and Expenses:        
Purchases of natural gas and petroleum products  1,889   2,069 
Purchases of natural gas and petroleum products from affiliates  148   202 
Operating and maintenance  94   105 
Depreciation and amortization  75   75 
General and administrative  41   38 
   
 
   
 
 
Total costs and expenses  2,247   2,489 
   
 
   
 
 
Operating Income  155   78 
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates  17   12 
Interest expense, net  40   42 
   
 
   
 
 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes  132   48 
Income tax expense  3   2 
   
 
   
 
 
Income from continuing operations before cumulative effect of accounting change  129   46 
Income from discontinued operations  5   6 
Cumulative effect of accounting change     (23)
   
 
   
 
 
Net income  134   29 
Dividends on preferred members’ interest     5 
   
 
   
 
 
Earnings available for members’ interest $134  $24 
   
 
   
 
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

1


DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
(millions)
           
    Three Months Ended,
    March 31,
    
    2003 2002
    
 
NET INCOME (LOSS) $28,660  $(17,000)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS):        
 Foreign currency translation adjustment  20,128   (2,344)
 Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges  (36,383)  (57,100)
 Reclassification into earnings  41,684   (18,534)
   
   
 
  Total other comprehensive income (loss)  25,429   (77,978)
   
   
 
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) $54,089  $(94,978)
   
   
 
         
  Three Months Ended
  March 31,
  2004
 2003
Net income $134  $29 
Other comprehensive income:        
Foreign currency translation adjustment  (4)  20 
Net unrealized losses on cash flow hedges  (17)  (37)
Reclassification of previously deferred losses on cash flow hedges into earnings  18   42 
   
 
   
 
 
Total other comprehensive income  (3)  25 
   
 
   
 
 
Total comprehensive income $131  $54 
   
 
   
 
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

2


DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)

             
      Three Months Ended,
      March 31,
      
      2003 2002
      
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:        
 Net income (loss) $28,660  $(17,000)
 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by        
  operating activities:        
  Depreciation and amortization  77,616   73,759 
  Deferred income taxes (benefit)  732   (520)
  Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates  (12,054)  (6,070)
  Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles  22,802    
  Other noncash items in net income (loss)  9,007   7,537 
 Change in operating assets and liabilities which provided (used) cash:        
  Accounts receivable  (685,905)  (26,782)
  Accounts receivable—affiliates  (117,780)  194,256 
  Inventories  21,639   10,663 
  Net unrealized loss (gains) on mark-to-market and hedging transactions  (37,162)  53,073 
  Other current assets  (18,887)  2,852 
  Other noncurrent assets  (2,009)  300 
  Accounts payable  815,244   (148,780)
  Accounts payable—affiliates  (7,776)  (12,244)
  Accrued interest payable  (32,942)  (31,757)
  Other current liabilities  1,843   1,848 
  Other long term liabilities  (2,001)  (1,962)
   
   
 
    Net cash provided by operating activities  61,027   99,173 
   
   
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:        
 Capital expenditures  (37,078)  (106,785)
 Investment expenditures  (482)  (3,463)
 Investment distributions  14,331   12,488 
 Contributions from minority interests  1,141    
 Proceeds from sales of assets  4,256    
   
   
 
    Net cash used in investing activities  (17,832)  (97,760)
   
   
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:        
 Distributions to members     (45,672)
 Short term debt—net  (30,731)  43,580 
 Debt issuance costs  (1,334)  (890)
 Payment of debt  (170)   
   
   
 
    Net cash used in financing activities  (32,235)  (2,982)
   
   
 
EFFECT OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH  426   (5)
   
   
 
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS  11,386   (1,574)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  24,783   4,906 
   
   
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $36,169  $3,332 
   
   
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW        
 INFORMATION – Cash paid for interest (net of amounts capitalized) $72,498  $74,365 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(millions)
         
  March 31, December 31,
  2004
 2003
ASSETS
        
Current assets:        
Cash and cash equivalents $248  $43 
Accounts receivable:        
Customers, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6 and $8, respectively  795   872 
Affiliates  52   57 
Other  30   29 
Inventories  26   45 
Unrealized gains on mark-to-market and hedging transactions  116   135 
Other  19   20 
   
 
   
 
 
Total current assets  1,286   1,201 
   
 
   
 
 
Property, plant and equipment, net  4,431   4,462 
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates  187   190 
Intangible assets:        
Commodity sales and purchases contracts, net  77   80 
Goodwill, net  447   447 
   
 
   
 
 
Total intangible assets  524   527 
   
 
   
 
 
Unrealized gains on mark-to-market and hedging transactions  33   25 
Other noncurrent assets  34   109 
   
 
   
 
 
Total assets $6,495  $6,514 
   
 
   
 
 
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY
        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable:        
Trade $837  $857 
Affiliates  11   16 
Other  28   33 
Short term debt  6   6 
Accrued interest payable  26   59 
Unrealized losses on mark-to-market and hedging transactions  132   153 
Other  130   150 
   
 
   
 
 
Total current liabilities  1,170   1,274 
   
 
   
 
 
Deferred income taxes  17   17 
Long term debt  2,260   2,262 
Unrealized losses on mark-to-market and hedging transactions  29   24 
Other long term liabilities  80   73 
Minority interests  125   120 
Commitments and contingent liabilities        
Members’ equity:        
Members’ interest  1,709   1,709 
Retained earnings  1,084   1,011 
Accumulated other comprehensive income  21   24 
   
 
   
 
 
Total members’ equity  2,814   2,744 
   
 
   
 
 
Total liabilities and members’ equity $6,495  $6,514 
   
 
   
 
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

3


DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
             
      March 31, December 31,
      2003 2002
      
 
ASSETS
        
CURRENT ASSETS:        
 Cash and cash equivalents $36,169  $24,783 
 Accounts receivable:        
  Customers, net  1,286,291   599,116 
  Affiliates  304,357   186,577 
  Other  49,195   50,466 
 Inventories  59,548   86,559 
 Unrealized gains on trading and hedging transactions  195,481   158,891 
 Other  27,130   6,713 
   
   
 
    Total current assets  1,958,171   1,113,105 
   
   
 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET  4,630,146   4,642,204 
INVESTMENT IN AFFILIATES  177,048   179,684 
INTANGIBLE ASSETS:        
 Natural gas liquids sales and purchases contracts, net  87,512   84,304 
 Goodwill, net  439,201   435,115 
   
   
 
    Total intangible assets  526,713   519,419 
   
   
 
UNREALIZED GAINS ON TRADING AND HEDGING TRANSACTIONS  26,419   21,685 
OTHER NONCURRENT ASSETS  90,857   89,504 
   
   
 
TOTAL ASSETS $7,409,354  $6,565,601 
   
   
 
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY
        
CURRENT LIABILITIES:        
 Accounts payable:        
  Trade $1,472,575  $656,126 
  Affiliates  69,233   77,009 
  Other  44,581   45,786 
 Short term debt  189,444   215,094 
 Unrealized losses on trading and hedging transactions  239,744   245,469 
 Accrued interest payable  26,352   59,294 
 Accrued taxes other than income  18,975   31,059 
 Other  101,204   89,427 
   
   
 
    Total current liabilities  2,162,108   1,419,264 
   
   
 
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES  12,472   11,740 
LONG TERM DEBT  2,259,268   2,255,508 
UNREALIZED LOSSES ON TRADING AND HEDGING TRANSACTIONS  21,358   15,336 
OTHER LONG TERM LIABILITIES  129,074   88,370 
MINORITY INTERESTS  125,172   124,820 
PREFERRED MEMBERS’ INTEREST  200,000   200,000 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES        
MEMBERS’ EQUITY:        
 Members’ interest  1,709,290   1,709,290 
 Retained earnings  830,029   806,119 
 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)  (39,417)  (64,846)
   
   
 
    Total members’ equity  2,499,902   2,450,563 
   
   
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY $7,409,354  $6,565,601 
   
   
 
(millions)
         
  Three Months Ended
  March 31,
  2004
 2003
Cash flows from operating activities:        
Net income $134  $29 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:        
Income from discontinued operations  (5)  (6)
Cumulative effect of accounting change     23 
Depreciation and amortization  75   75 
Distributions received in excess of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates  2   2 
Other, net  3   9 
Change in operating assets and liabilities which provided (used) cash:        
Accounts receivable  79   (612)
Accounts receivable from affiliates  8   (122)
Inventories  20   22 
Net unrealized gains on mark-to-market and hedging transactions  (2)  (37)
Accounts payable  (53)  741 
Accounts payable to affiliates  (7)  (3)
Accrued interest payable  (33)  (33)
Other  (3)  (21)
   
 
   
 
 
Net cash provided by continuing operations  218   67 
Net cash provided by discontinued operations  2   9 
   
 
   
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities  220   76 
   
 
   
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:        
Capital expenditures  (25)  (34)
Consolidation of previously unconsolidated investment  6    
Contributions from minority interests, net     1 
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations  62    
Proceeds from sales of assets  1   4 
   
 
   
 
 
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing operations  44   (29)
Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations     (3)
   
 
   
 
 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities  44   (32)
   
 
   
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:        
Payment of debt  (9)  (31)
Payment of dividends  (50)   
Costs of issuing debt, net     (1)
   
 
   
 
 
Net cash used in continuing operations  (59)  (32)
Net cash used in discontinued operations      
   
 
   
 
 
Net cash used in financing activities  (59)  (32)
   
 
   
 
 
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash      
   
 
   
 
 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents  205   12 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period  43   35 
   
 
   
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $248  $47 
   
 
   
 
 
Supplementary cash flow information:        
Cash paid for interest (net of amounts capitalized) $69  $73 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1. General

     Duke Energy Field Services, LLC (with its consolidated subsidiaries, “the Company” or “Field Services LLC”the “Company”) operates in the two principal segments of the midstream natural gas industry of (1) natural gas gathering, compression, treatment, processing, transportation, marketingtrading and tradingmarketing and storage; and (2) natural gas liquids (“NGLs”), fractionation, transportation, marketing and trading.trading and marketing. Duke Energy Corporation (“Duke Energy”) owns 69.7% of the Company’s outstanding member interests and ConocoPhillips owns the remaining 30.3%.

These Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the financial position and results of operations for the respective interim periods. These consolidated financial statements and other information included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

     Consolidation —The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and all majority-owned subsidiaries, after eliminating significant intercompany transactions and balances.balances, and variable interest entities where the Company is the primary beneficiary. Investments in 20% to 50% owned affiliates, and investments in less than 20% owned affiliates where the Company had the ability to exercise significant influence, are accounted for using the equity method. Investments greater than 50% are consolidated unless the Company does not operate these investments and as a result does not have the ability to exercise control.control, in which case, they are accounted for using the equity method.

     Use of Estimates —Conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and notes. Although these estimates are based on management’s best available knowledge of current and expected future events, actual results could be different from those estimates.

     Inventories— Inventories consist primarily of materials and supplies and natural gas and NGLs held in storage for transmission, marketing and sales commitments. Inventories are recorded at the lower of cost or market value using the average cost method. Historically, since January 2001, natural gas storage arbitrage inventories were marked to market. However, effective January 1, 2003, in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standard Board’s (“FASB”) Emerging Issues Task Force’s (“EITF”) rescission of Issue No. 98-10, “Accounting for Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities,” all gas storage inventory is now recorded at the lower of cost or market, (see “New Accounting Standards” below).

     Accounting for Hedges and Commodity Trading and Marketing ActivitiesAll derivativesEach derivative not qualifying for the normal purchases and sales exemptionexception under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 133 (“SFAS 133”), “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” areActivities,” as amended, is recorded on a gross basis as assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair value as Unrealized Gainsgains or Unrealized Losseslosses on Tradingmark-to-market and Hedging Transactions. Onhedging transactions. Derivative assets and liabilities remain classified in the date that derivative contracts are entered into,Consolidated Balance Sheets as Unrealized gains or Unrealized losses on mark-to-market or hedging transactions at fair value until the contractual delivery period occurs.

     Effective January 1, 2003, the Company designates theeach energy commodity derivative as either trading or non-trading;non-trading. For each of the Company’s derivatives, the accounting method and presentation of gains and losses or revenue and expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations are as follows:

5


Classification of Contract
Accounting Method
Presentation of Gains & Losses or Revenue & Expense
Trading DerivativesMark-to-marketaNet basis in Trading and marketing net margin
Non-Trading Derivatives:
Cash Flow HedgeHedge methodbGross basis in the same income statement
category as the related hedged item
Fair Value HedgeHedge methodbGross basis in the same income statement
category as the related hedged item
Normal Purchase or Normal SaleAccrual methodcGross basis upon settlement in the
corresponding income statement category
based on commodity type
Non-Trading Mark-to-MarketMark-to-marketaNet basis in Trading and marketing net margin


aMark-to-market- An accounting method whereby the change in the fair value of the asset or liability is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in Trading and marketing net margin during the current period.
bHedge method- An accounting method whereby the effective portion of the change in the fair value of the asset or liability is recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and there is no recognition in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the effective portion until the hedged transaction occurs.
cAccrual method- An accounting method whereby there is no recognition in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for changes in fair value of a contract until the service is provided or the associated delivery of product occurs.

     For derivatives designated as a cash flow hedge ofor a recognized asset, liability or firm commitment (fairfair value hedges); as a hedge, of a forecasted transaction or future cash flows (cash flow hedges); or as a normal purchase or sale contract.

     For hedge contracts, the Company formally assesses, both at the inception of the hedge contract’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the hedge contract is highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items. The Company currently excludes the time value of the options when assessing hedge effectiveness.

     When available, quoted market prices or prices obtained through external sources are used to verify a contract’s fair value. For contracts with a delivery location or duration for which quoted market prices are not available, fair value is determined based on pricing models developed primarily from historical and expected correlations with quoted market prices.

     Values are adjusted to reflect the credit risk inherent in the transaction as well as the potential impact of liquidating the open positions held in an orderly manner over a reasonable time period under current conditions. Changes in market priceprices and management estimates directly affect the estimated fair value of these contracts. Accordingly, it is reasonably possible that such estimates may change in the near term.

5


     Commodity Trading and Marketing — A favorable or unfavorable price movement of any derivative contract held for trading and marketing purposes is reported as Trading and Marketing Net Marginmarketing net margin in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. An offsetting amount is recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Unrealized Gainsgains or Unrealized Lossesunrealized losses on Tradingmark-to-market and Hedging Transactions.hedging transactions. When a contract is settled,the contractual delivery period occurs, the realized gain or loss is reclassified to a receivable or payable account. Settlement has no revenue presentation effect on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

     See the “New Accounting Standards” section below for a discussion of the implications of EITF Issue 02-03, “Issues Involved in Accounting for Derivative Contracts Held for Trading Purposes and Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities,” on the accounting for trading activities subsequent to October 25, 2002.

     Commodity Cash Flow Hedges — The fair value of a derivative designated as a cash flow hedge is recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Unrealized gains or unrealized losses on mark-to-market and hedging transactions. The effective portion of the change in fair value of a derivative designated and qualified as a cash flow hedge is includedrecorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) until earnings are affected by. During the period in which the hedged item. Settlementtransaction occurs, amounts of cash flow hedgesin AOCI associated with the hedged transaction are removed from AOCI and recorded inreclassified to the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the same accounts as the item being hedged. The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when it is determined that the derivative no longer qualifies as an effective hedge, or when it is no longer probable that the hedged transaction will occur. When hedge accounting is discontinued because the derivative no longer qualifies as an effective hedge, the derivative continues to be carried on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at its fair value, withvalue; however, subsequent changes in its fair value are recognized in current-periodcurrent period earnings. Gains and losses related to discontinued hedges that were previously accumulated in AOCI will remain in AOCI until earnings are affected by the hedged item,transaction occurs, unless it is no longer probable that

6


the hedged transaction will occur, in which case, the gains and losses that were accumulated in AOCI will be immediately recognized in current-periodcurrent period earnings. At March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, $28 million and $29 million, respectively, of losses related to cash flow hedges were deferred in AOCI.

     Commodity Fair Value Hedges — Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated and qualifies as a fair value hedge are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as Sales of Natural Gasnatural gas and Petroleum Productspetroleum products and Purchases of Natural Gasnatural gas and Petroleum Products,petroleum products, as appropriate.appropriate, and are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Unrealized gains or losses on mark-to-market and hedging transactions. Changes in the fair value of the physical portion of a fair value hedge (i.e., the hedged item) are recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the same accounts as the changes in the fair value of the derivative, with offsetting amounts in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Other Current Assets,current assets, Other Noncurrent Assets,noncurrent assets, Other Current Liabilities,current liabilities or Other Long Term Liabilities,long term liabilities, as appropriate.

     Interest Rate Fair Value Hedges — The Company periodically enters into interest rate swaps to convert some of its fixed-rate long term debt to floating-rate long term debt. Hedged items in fair value hedges are marked to marketmarked-to-market with the respective derivative instruments. Accordingly, the Company’s hedged fixed-rate debt is carried at fair value. The terms of the outstanding swapswaps match those of the associated debt which permits the assumption of no ineffectiveness, as defined by SFAS No. 133. As such, for the life of the swapswaps, no ineffectiveness will be recognized.

     Income TaxesDistributions –— TheUnder the terms of the Company’s Limited Liability Company Agreement (the “LLC Agreement”), the Company is required to make quarterly distributions to Duke Energy and ConocoPhillips based on allocated taxable income. The distributions areLLC Agreement, as amended, provides for taxable income to be allocated in accordance with Internal Revenue Code Section 704(c). This Code Section accounts for the variation between the adjusted tax basis and the fair market value of assets contributed to the joint venture. The distribution is based on the highest taxable income allocated to either member, with the other member receiving a proportionate amount to maintain the ownership capital accounts at 69.7% for Duke Energy and 30.3% for ConocoPhillips. As of March 31, 2004, distributions payable of $11 million were included in Other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. This amount was based on estimated annual taxable income allocated to the members according to their respective ownership percentages and was paid in April 2004.

     In 2003, the Company’s board of directors approved a plan to consider the payment of a quarterly dividend to Duke Energy and ConocoPhillips. The board of directors may consider net income, cash flow or any other criteria deemed appropriate for determining the amount of the quarterly dividend to be paid. The LLC Agreement restricts making distributions, which would include these dividends, except with the approval of both members. During the quarter ended March 31, 2004, with the approval of both members, the Company paid a dividend of $50 million to the members allocated in accordance with their respective ownership percentages.

     Stock-Based Compensation— Under Duke Energy’s 1998 Long Term Incentive Plan, stock options for Duke Energy’s common stock may be granted to the Company’s key employees. The Company accounts for stock-based compensation using the intrinsic value recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (APB)(“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and FASB Interpretation No. 44, “Accounting for Certain Transactions Involving Stock Compensation (an Interpretation of APB Opinion No. 25).” Under this method, any compensation cost is measured as the quoted market price of stock at the date of the grant less the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock. Since the exercise price for all options granted under those plansthe plan was equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant, no compensation cost is recognized in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. Restricted stock grants and phantom stock awards and stock-based performance awards are recorded over the required vesting period as compensation cost, based on the market value on the date of grant. (See Note 7Performance awards are recorded over the required vesting period as compensation costs, based on the market value on the date of the balance sheet.

     The following table shows what earnings available for pro forma disclosures usingmembers’ interest would have been if the Company had applied the fair value accounting method.)recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to all stock-based compensation awards and reflects the provisions of SFAS No. 148 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure — an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123.”

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Pro Forma Stock-Based Compensation Three months ended
(millions)
 March 31,
  2004
 2003
Earnings available for members’ interest,        
as reported $134  $24 
Add: stock-based compensation expense        
included in reported net income      
Deduct: total stock-based compensation        
expense determined under fair value-based        
method for all awards  (1)  (1)
   
 
   
 
 
Pro forma earnings available for members’        
interest $133  $23 
   
 
   
 
 

     Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)The components of and changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows:

             
      Net    
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Foreign Unrealized (Losses) Accumulated Other
Income (Loss) Currency Gains on Cash Flow Comprehensive
(in thousands) Adjustments Hedges (Loss) Income

 
 
 
Balance as of December 31, 2002 $(6,728) $(58,118) $(64,846)
Other comprehensive income changes during the quarter  20,128   5,301   25,429 
   
   
   
 
Balance as of March 31, 2003 $13,400  $(52,817) $(39,417)
   
   
   
 
             
      Net Accumulated
Accumulated Other Foreign Unrealized Other
Comprehensive Income Currency (Losses) Gains on Comprehensive
(millions)
 Adjustments
 Cash Flow Hedges
 Income
Balance as of December 31, 2003 $53  $(29) $24 
Other comprehensive income changes during the period  (4)  1   (3)
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Balance as of March 31, 2004 $49  $(28) $21 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

     Cumulative Effect of Changes in Accounting PrinciplesChange— The Company adopted the provisions of EITF Issue 02-03 (“EITF 02-03”), “Issues Involved in Accounting for Derivative Contracts Held for Trading Purposes and for Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities,” that required new non-derivative energy trading contracts entered into after October 25, 2002 to be accounted for under the accrual accounting basis. Non-derivative energy trading contracts recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of January 1, 2003 that existed at October 25, 2002 and inventories that were recorded at fair values were adjusted to historical cost via a cumulative effect adjustment of $5 million as a reduction to earnings in the first quarter of 2003.

     The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 143 (“SFAS 143”), “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” onObligations,” as of January 1, 2003.2003 which addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. In accordance with the transition provisions of SFAS No. 143, the Company recorded asset retirement liabilities and a cumulative-effectcumulative effect adjustment of $17.4$18 million as a reduction to earnings in earnings. In addition, in accordance with the EITF’s October 2002 consensus on Issue No. 02-03, on January 1, 2003, the Company decreased its inventories from fair value to historical cost and recorded a $5.4 million cumulative-effect adjustment as a reduction in earnings.first quarter of 2003.

     New Accounting Standards— In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150 (“SFAS 150”), “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity.” SFAS No. 150 improves the accounting forrequires that certain financial instruments that under previous guidance, issuers could accountpreviously be accounted for as equity. SFAS No. 150 requires that those instrumentsequity, be classified as liabilities in statements of financial position.the consolidated balance sheets and initially recorded at fair value. In addition to its requirements for the classification and measurement of financial instruments in its scope, SFAS No. 150 also requires disclosures about the nature and terms of the financial instruments and about alternative ways of settling the instruments and the capital structure of entities, all of whose shares are mandatorily redeemable.instruments. The provisions of SFAS No. 150 are effective for all financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and are otherwise effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company is currently assessing SFAS No. 150 but does not anticipate that it will have a material impactUpon adoption on its consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

     In AprilJuly 1, 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “AmendmentCompany reclassified its preferred members’ interest, which are mandatorily redeemable, of Statement 133$200 million from mezzanine equity to long term debt and prospectively classified accrued or paid distributions on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”these securities, which amends and clarifies accounting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embeddedhad previously been classified as dividends, as interest expense. During 2003, the Company redeemed the remaining $200 million of these securities in other contracts, and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 149 clarifies the discussion around initial net investment, clarifies when a derivative contains a financing component, and amends the definition of an underlying to conform it to language used in FIN 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others.” In addition, SFAS No. 149 also incorporates certain of the Derivative Implementation Group Implementation Issues. The provisions of SFAS No. 149 are effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003 and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003. The guidance should be applied to hedging relationships on a prospective basis. The Company is currently assessing SFAS No. 149 but does not anticipate that it will have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.cash.

     In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46 (FIN 46)(“FIN 46”), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.”Entities” which requires the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity’s activities to consolidate the variable interest

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entity. FIN 46 requires an entity to consolidatedefines a variable interest entity if itas an entity in which the equity investors do not have substantive voting rights and there is not sufficient equity at risk for the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity’s activities.entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support. The primary beneficiary is the party that absorbs a majority of the expected losses and/or receives a majority of the expected residual returns or both, fromof the variable interest entity’s activities. In December 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46R, which supercedes and amends certain provisions of FIN 46. While FIN 46R retains many of the concepts and provisions of FIN 46, isit also provides additional guidance related to the application of FIN 46, provides for certain additional scope exceptions, and incorporates several FASB Staff Positions issued related to the application of FIN 46.

     The provisions of FIN 46 are immediately applicable immediately to variable interest entities created, or interests in variable interest entities obtained, after January 31, 2003.2003 and the provisions of FIN 46R are required to be applied to such entities by the end of the first reporting period ending after March 15, 2004 (March 31, 2004 for the Company). For those variable interest entities created, or interests in variable interest entities obtained, on or before January 31, 2003, FIN 46 or FIN 46R is required to be applied into special-purpose entities by the end of the first fiscal year or interimreporting period beginningending after JuneDecember 15, 2003.2003 (December 31, 2003 for calendar-year entities) and is required to be applied to all other non-special purpose entities by the end of the first reporting period ending after March 15, 2004 (March 31, 2004 for calendar-year entities). FIN 46 and FIN 46R may be applied prospectively with a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date it is first applied, or by restating previously issued financial statements with a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the first year restated. FIN 46 and FIN 46R also requiresrequire certain disclosures of an entity’s relationship with variable interest entities.

     The Company shares ownership interests with other industry partners in a variety of different partnership and joint venture entities in order to share the risks and rewards of ownership in certain gas and NGL plant and pipeline assets. The Company doeshas not provide supplemental financial support to these entities, other than the debt guarantees discussed in Note 9. In general, these entities are structured such that the voting and equity interests in these entities are consistent with the allocation of the entities’ profits and losses. The Company is continuing the process of examining all of its ownership interests to determine the necessary disclosures and procedures for complying with FIN 46. At this point, the Company does not anticipate that these entities will qualify asidentified any material variable interest entities created, or interests in variable entities obtained, after January 31, 2003 which require consolidation or disclosure under FIN 46. However, inThe Company consolidated one entity, previously accounted for under the event that it is determined that any such entities are variable interest

7


entities,equity method of accounting, on January 1, 2004 under the Company believes that it would not be the primary beneficiary of such entities and thus the consolidation provisions of FIN 46 would not apply. For all46R. This entity, which is a substantive entity, had total assets of these partnership and joint venture entities, the Company believes that its maximum exposure to loss would be equal to its investment in these entities plus its potential obligations under its guarantees of unconsolidated debt. At March 31, 2003, the Company’s total investment in, plus the value of any guaranteed debt for entities that may reasonably possibly be determined to be variable interest entities, was approximately $169 million.

     In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123.” SFAS No. 148 amends SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, SFAS No. 148 amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. The Company adopted the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS No. 148$92 million as of December 31, 2002.January 1, 2004. Adoption of the new standardFIN 46R had no material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

     In November 2002,July 2003, the EITF reached consensus in EITF Issue No. 03-11 (“EITF 03-11”), “Reporting Realized Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments that are Subject to FASB issued InterpretationStatement No. 45, “Guarantor’s133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Disclosure RequirementsHedging Activities, and Not Held for Guarantees, Including Indirect GuaranteesTrading Purposes,” that determining whether realized gains and losses on derivative contracts not held for trading purposes should be reported on a net or gross basis is a matter of Indebtedness of Others,” which elaboratesjudgment that depends on the disclosures torelevant facts and circumstances. In analyzing the facts and circumstances, EITF 99-19, “Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent” and Opinion No. 29, “Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions,” should be made by a guarantor about its obligations under certain guarantees issued. It also clarifies that a guarantorconsidered. EITF 03-11 is required to recognize, at the inceptioneffective for transactions or arrangements entered into after September 30, 2003. The adoption of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee. The Company adopted the initial recognition and measurement provisions of Interpretation No. 45 effective January 1, 2003. Adoption of the new interpretationEITF 03-11 had no material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

     In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities,” which addresses accounting for restructuring and similar costs. SFAS No. 146 supersedes previous accounting guidance, principally EITF No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).” The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 146 for restructuring activities initiated after December 31, 2002. SFAS No. 146 requires that the liability for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under EITF No. 94-3, a liability for an exit cost was recognized at the date of the Company’s commitment to an exit plan. SFAS No. 146 also establishes that the liability should initially be measured and recorded at fair value. Accordingly, SFAS No. 146 may affect the timing of recognizing future restructuring costs as well as the amounts recognized.

     In June 2002,May 2003, the EITF reached a partial consensus onin EITF Issue No. 02-03, “Issues Involved in Accounting for Derivative Contracts Held for Trading Purposes and Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities.01-08 (“EITF 01-08”), “Determining Whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease,The EITF concluded that, effective for periods ending after July 15, 2002, mark-to-market gains and losses on energy trading contracts (including those to be physically settled) must be shown on a net basis inclarify the Consolidated Statementsrequirements of Operations. The Company had previously chosen to report certain of its energy trading contracts on a gross basis, as sales in operating revenues and the associated costs recorded as purchases in costs and expenses, in accordance with prevailing industry practice.

     In October 2002, the EITF, as part of their further deliberations on Issue No. 02-03, rescinded the consensus reached in Issue No. 98-10. As a result, all energy trading contracts that do not meet the definition of a derivative under SFAS No. 133, and trading inventories that previously had been recorded at fair values, must now be recorded at the lower of cost or market and are reported onidentifying whether an accrual basis resulting in the recognition of earnings or losses at the time of contract settlement or termination. New non-derivative energy trading contracts entered into after October 25, 2002arrangement should be accounted for under the accrual accounting basis. Non-derivative energy trading contracts on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of January 1, 2003 that existed at October 25, 2002 and inventories that were recorded at fair values have been adjusted to the lower of historical cost or market via a cumulative-effect adjustment of $5.4 million as a reduction to 2003 earnings. In connection withlease at its inception. The guidance in the consensus reached on Issue No. 02-03,is designed to mandate reporting revenue as rental or leasing income that otherwise would be reported as part of product sales or service revenue. EITF 01-08 requires both parties to an arrangement to determine whether a service contract or similar arrangement is or includes a lease within the FASB staff observed that, effective July 1, 2002, an entity should not recognize unrealized gains or losses

8


at the inception of a derivative instrument unless the fair value of that instrument is evidenced by quoted market prices or current market transactions.

     In October 2002, the EITF also reached a consensus on Issue No. 02-03 that, effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2002, all gains and losses on all derivative instruments held for trading purposes should be shown on a net basis in the income statement. Gains and losses on non-derivative energy trading contracts should similarly be presented on a gross or net basis in connection with the guidance in Issue No. 99-19, “Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent.” Upon application of this presentation, comparative financial statements for prior periods are required to be reclassified to conform to the consensus other than for energy trading contracts that were shown on a net basis under Issue No. 98-10. Accordingly, for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, only derivative instruments that are held for trading purposes and are accounted for under mark-to-market accounting are included in trading and marketing net margin on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the quarter ended March 31, 2002, trading and marketing net margin also includes the net margin on non-derivative energy trading contracts (primarily gas storage inventories and the related physical purchases and sales) that no longer qualify for net presentation after the rescission of Issue No. 98-10. The new gross versus net revenue presentation requirements had no impact on operating income or net income.

     In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” which addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. The standard applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal use of the asset. SFAS No. 143 requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred, if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The fair value of the liability is added to the carrying amount of the associated asset. This additional carrying amount is then depreciated over the life of the asset. The liability increases due to the passage of time based on the time value of money until the obligation is settled. The Company adopted the provisionsscope of SFAS No. 143 as of January13, “Accounting for Leases.” The consensus is to be applied prospectively to arrangements agreed to, modified, or acquired in business combinations in fiscal periods beginning on July 1, 2003. In accordance withThe adoption of EITF 01-08 had no material effect on the transition provisionsCompany’s consolidated results of SFAS No. 143, the Company recorded a cumulative-effect adjustment of $17.4 million as a reduction in 2003 earnings.operations, cash flows or financial position.

     Reclassifications— Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified in the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto to conform to the current period presentation. Included in the reclassified amounts are increases in both Sales of natural gas and petroleum products and in Purchases of natural gas and petroleum products in the amount of approximately $236 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2003. This reclassification resulted from intersegment trading activities being eliminated twice from the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the quarter ended March 31, 2003. Management has concluded that these reclassifications are not material to the fair presentation of the Company’s financial statements.

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3. Acquisitions and Dispositions

     In the first quarter of 2004, the Company sold gas gathering and processing plant assets in West Texas to a third party purchaser for a sales price of approximately $62 million. These assets comprised a component of the Company for purposes of reporting discontinued operations. All prior period operations have been revised to reflect these assets as discontinued operations.

     In the second quarter of 2003, the Company sold gathering, transmission and processing assets to two separate buyers for a combined sales price of approximately $90 million. These assets comprised a component of the Company for purposes of reporting discontinued operations. All prior period operations have been revised to reflect these assets as discontinued operations.

     The following table sets forth selected financial information associated with the assets discussed above which are accounted for as discontinued operations:

         
  Three
  Months Ended
  March 31,
  2004
 2003
  (millions)
Revenues $14  $139 
Operating income  2   6 
Gain on sale  3    
   
 
   
 
 
Income from discontinued operations $5  $6 
   
 
   
 
 

     3.4. Derivative Instruments, Hedging Activities and Credit and Risk

Commodity price risk— The Company’s principal operations of gathering, processing, transportation, marketing and trading and storage of natural gas, and the accompanying operations of fractionation, transportation, trading and marketing of NGLs create commodity price risk exposure due to market fluctuations in commodity prices, primarily with respect to the prices of NGLs, natural gas and crude oil. As an owner and operator of natural gas processing and other midstream assets, the Company has an inherent exposure to market variables and commodity price risk. The amount and type of price risk is dependent on the underlying natural gas contracts entered into to purchase and process raw gas. Risk is also dependent on the types and mechanisms for sales of natural gas and natural gas liquid products produced, processed, transported or stored.

Energy trading (market) risk— Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries are engaged in the business of trading energy related products and services including managing purchase and sales portfolios, storage contracts and facilities, and transportation commitments for products. These energy trading operations are exposed to market variables and commodity price risk with respect to these products and services, and may enter into physical contracts and financial instruments with the objective of realizing a positive margin from the purchase and sale of commodity-based instruments.

Corporate economic risks— The Company enters into debt arrangements that are exposed to market risks related to changes in interest rates. The Company periodically uses interest rate lock agreements and interest rate swaps to hedge interest rate risk associated with new debt issuances. The Company’s primary goals include (1) maintaining an appropriate ratio of fixed-rate debt to total debt for the Company’s debt rating; (2) reducing volatility

9


of earnings resulting from interest rate fluctuations; and (3) locking in attractive interest rates based on historical rates.

Counterparty risks —The Company sells various commodities (i.e., natural gas, NGLs and crude oil) to a variety of customers. The natural gas customers include local utilities, industrial consumers, independent power producers and merchant energy trading organizations. The NGLs customers range from large, multi-national petrochemical and refining companies to small regional retail propane distributors. Substantially all of the Company’s NGLs sales are made at market-based prices, including approximately 40% of NGLs production that is committed to ConocoPhillips and Chevron Phillips Chemical LLC, under a contract with a primary term that expires on December 31, 2014. This concentration of credit risk may affect the Company’s overall credit risk in that these customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic, regulatory or other factors. On transactions where the Company is exposed to credit risk, the Company analyzes the counterparties’ financial condition prior to entering into an agreement, establishes credit limits and monitors the appropriateness of these limits on an ongoing basis. The corporate credit policy prescribes the use of master collateral agreements to mitigate credit exposure. The collateral agreements provide for a counterparty to post cash or letters of credit for exposure in excess of the established threshold. The threshold amount represents an open credit limit, determined in accordance with the corporate credit policy. The collateral agreements also provide that the failure to post collateral is sufficient cause to terminate a contract and liquidate all positions.

     Physical forward contracts and financial derivatives are generally cash settled at the expiration of the contract term. These transactions are generally subject to specific credit provisions within the contracts that would allow the seller, at its discretion, to suspend deliveries, cancel agreements or continue deliveries to the buyer after the buyer provides security for payment satisfactory to the seller.

     Commodity cash flow hedges —The Company uses cash flow hedges, as specifically defined by SFAS No. 133, to reduce the potential negative impact that commodity price changes could have on the Company’s earnings and its ability to adequately plan for cash needed for debt service, dividends, capital expenditures and tax distributions. The Company’s primary corporate hedging goals include maintaining minimum cash flows to fund debt service, dividends, production replacement capital, maintenance capital projects and tax distributions; and retaining a high percentage of potential upside relating to price increases of NGLs.

     The Company uses natural gas, crude oil and NGLNGLs swaps and options to hedge the impact of market fluctuations in the priceprices of NGLs, natural gas and other energy-related products. For the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company recognized a net lossrecognition in the Consolidated Statements of $39.5Operations of the cumulative changes in the fair value of these hedge instruments reduced revenues by $19 million and $40 million, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, the gains or losses representing the ineffective portion of which a $2.2 million gain represented the total ineffectiveness of allCompany’s’ cash flow hedges and a $41.7 million loss represented the total derivative settlements.were not material. No derivative gains or losses were reclassified from OCIAOCI to current period earnings as a result of the discontinuance of cash flow hedges related to certainany forecasted transactions that are not probable of occurring.

     Gains and losses on derivative contracts that are reclassified from accumulated OCIAOCI to current period earnings are included in the line item in which the hedged item is recorded. As of March 31, 2003, $51.52004, $28 million of the deferred net losses on derivative instruments accumulated in OCIAOCI are expected to be reclassified into earnings duringthrough the next 12 monthsend of 2004 as the hedgehedged transactions occur; however, due to the volatility of the commodities markets, the corresponding value in OCIAOCI is subject to change prior to its reclassification into earnings. The maximumremaining term over which the Company is currently hedging its exposure to the variability of future cash flows is three years.through the end of 2004.

     Commodity fair value hedges— The Company uses fair value hedges to hedge exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset or a liability (or an identified portion thereof) that is attributable to price risk. The Company hedgesmay hedge producer price locks (fixed price gas purchases) and market locks (fixed price gas sales) to reduce the Company’s exposure to fixed price risk via swapping out the fixed price risk for a floating price position (New York Mercantile Exchange or index based).

10


     For the three months ended March 31, 2003,2004, the gains or losses representing the ineffective portion of the Company’s fair value hedges were not significant.material. All components of each derivative’s gain or loss are included in

10


the assessment of hedge effectiveness, unless otherwise noted. The Company did not have any firm commitments that no longer qualified as fair value hedge items and therefore, did not recognize an associated gain or loss.

     Interest rate fair value hedgehedges— In October 2001, the Company entered into an interest rate swap to convert the fixed interest rate$250 million of $250.0 million offixed-rate debt securities that were issued in August 2000 to floating rate debt. The interest rate fair value hedge is at a floating rate based on a six-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), which is re-priced semiannually through 2005. In August 2003, the Company entered into two additional interest rate swaps to convert $100 million of fixed-rate debt securities issued on August 16, 2000 to floating rate debt. These interest rate fair value hedges are also at a floating rate based on six-month LIBOR, which is re-priced semiannually through 2030. The swap meetsswaps meet conditions which permit the assumption of no ineffectiveness, as defined by SFAS No. 133. As such, for the life of the swapswaps no ineffectiveness will be recognized. As of March 31, 2003,2004, the fair value of the interest rate swap of $12.8swaps was a $17 million wasasset, which is included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as Unrealized Gainsgains or Losseslosses on Tradingmark-to-market and Hedging Transactionshedging transactions with an offset to the underlying debt included in Long Term Debt.term debt.

     Commodity Derivatives — Trading and Marketing— The trading and marketing of energy related products and services exposes the Company to the fluctuations in the market values of traded instruments. The Company manages its traded instrumenttrading and marketing portfolio with strict policies which limit exposure to market risk and require daily reporting to management of potential financial exposure. These policies include statistical risk tolerance limits using historical price movements to calculate a daily earnings at risk measurement.

4.5. Asset Retirement Obligations

SFAS No. 143,“Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.”In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143 which addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. The standard applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal use of the asset. The Company’s asset retirement obligations relate primarily to the retirement of certain gathering pipelines and processing facilities, obligations related to right-of-way agreements and contractual leases for land use.

     SFAS No. 143 requires thatThe following table summarizes changes in the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognizedfor the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

         
  Three
  Months Ended
  March 31,
Reconciliation of Asset Retirement Obligation (millions)
 2004
 2003
Balance as of January 1 $45  $43 
Accretion expense  1   1 
Liabilities settled  (1)   
   
 
   
 
 
Balance as of March 31 $45  $44 
   
 
   
 
 

6. Goodwill and Other Intangibles

     The changes in the period in which it is incurred, if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The fair value of the liability is added to the carrying amount of the associated asset. This additional carrying amount is then depreciated over the life of the asset. The liability increases due to the passage of time based on the time value of money until the obligation is settled.

     The Company identified certain assets as having an indeterminate life in accordance with SFAS No. 143, which do not trigger a requirement to establish a fair value for future retirement obligations associated with such assets. These assets include certain pipelines, processing plants and distribution facilities. A liability for these asset retirement obligations will be recorded if and when a future retirement obligation is identified.

     SFAS No. 143 was effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002, and was adopted by the Company on January 1, 2003. At January 1, 2003, the implementation of SFAS No. 143 resulted in a net increase in total assets of $25.1 million, consisting of an increase in net property, plant and equipment. Liabilities increased by $42.5 million, which represents the establishment of an asset retirement obligation liability. A cumulative-effect of a change in accounting principle adjustment of $17.4 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2003, as a reduction in earnings.

     The following table shows the asset retirement obligation liability as though SFAS No. 143 had been in effect for the prior three years.

     
Pro forma Asset Retirement Obligation (in thousands)

 
January 1, 2000 $13,493 
December 31, 2000  31,561 
December 31, 2001  38,879 
December 31, 2002  42,549 
   
 

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     The asset retirement obligation is adjusted each quarter for any liabilities incurred or settled during the period, accretion expense and any revisions made to the estimated cash flows. The reconciliation of the asset retirement obligationgoodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2004 are as follows:

                 
          Foreign  
      Purchase Currency  
  Balance Price Exchange Balance
  December 31, 2003
 Adjustments
 Adjustments
 March 31, 2003
  (millions)
Natural gas gathering, processing, transportation, marketing and storage $407  $  $  $407 
NGL fractionation, transportation, marketing and trading  40         40 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Total consolidated $447  $  $  $447 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

     There were no impairments of goodwill for the quarter ended March 31, 2004.

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     The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for commodity sales and purchases contracts are as follows:

         
  March 31,
 December 31,
  2004
 2003
  (millions)
Commodity sales and purchases contracts $127  $127 
Accumulated amortization  (50)  (47)
   
 
   
 
 
Commodity sales and purchases contracts, net $77  $80 
   
 
   
 
 

     During each of the quarters ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company recorded amortization expense associated with commodity sales and purchases contracts of $3 million. The average remaining amortization period for these contracts is shown in6.8 years. Estimated amortization for these contracts for the following table.

     
  Three Months Ended
  March 31, 2003
Reconciliation of Asset Retirement Obligation (in thousands)

 
Balance as of January 1, 2003 $42,549 
Accretion expense  889 
Other  471 
   
 
Balance as of March 31, 2003 $43,909 
   
 
next five years is as follows:
     
Estimated Amortization
(millions)
2004 $6 
2005  8 
2006  8 
2007  8 
2008  8 
Thereafter  39 
   
 
 
Total $77 
   
 
 

5.7. Financing

     Credit Facility with Financial Institutions —On March 28, 2003,26, 2004, the Company entered into a new credit facility (the “New Facility”“Facility”). The New Facility replaces the credit facility that matured on March 28, 2003.26, 2004. The New Facility is used to support the Company’s commercial paper program and for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The New Facility matures on March 26, 2004, however;25, 2005; however, any outstanding loansborrowings under the New Facility at maturity may, at the Company’s option, be converted to a one-year term loan. The New Facility is a $350.0$250 million revolving credit facility, all of which $100.0 million can be used for letters of credit. The New Facility requires the Company to maintain at all times a debt to total capitalization ratio of less than or equal to 53%; and maintain at the end of each fiscal quarter an interest coverage ratio (defined to be the ratio of adjusted EBITDA, as defined by the Facility, for the four most recent quarters to interest expense for the same period) of at least 2.5 to 1 (see Note 8 for definition of EBITDA);(adjusted EBITDA, is defined by the Facility, to be earnings before interest, taxes and contains certain restrictions applicable to dividendsdepreciation and amortization and other payments to the Company’s members.adjustments). The New Facility bears interest at a rate equal to, at the Company’s option and based on the Company’s current debt rating, either (1) LIBOR plus 1.25%1.125% per year or (2) the higher of (a) the JP Morgan Chase Bank prime rate plus 0.125% per year and (b) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50%0.625% per year. At March 31, 2003,2004, there were no borrowings or letters of credit drawn against the New Facility.

     On March 28, 2003, the Company also entered into a $100.0$100 million funded short-term loan with Bank One, NAa bank (the “Short-Term Loan”). The Short-Term Loan iswas used for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The Short-Term Loan matures oncontained an original maturity of September 30, 2003, but was repaid by August 2003 with funds generated from asset sales and mayoperations.

     On November 3, 2003, the Company executed a $32 million irrevocable standby letter of credit expiring on May 15, 2004 to be prepaid at any time. The Short-Term Loan hasused to secure transaction exposure with a counterparty. As of March 31, 2004, this letter of credit was still in effect.

Preferred Financing –Upon adoption of SFAS 150 on July 1, 2003, the same financial covenants as the New Facility. The Short-Term Loan bearsCompany reclassified its preferred members’ interest, at a rate equalwhich are mandatorily redeemable securities, of $200 million from mezzanine equity to at the Company’s option, either (1) LIBOR plus 1.35% per year or (2) the higher of (a) the Bank One, NA prime rate and (b) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50% per year. The Company’s management believes our cash flows and the New Facility will be adequate to meet our liquidity needslong term debt. During 2003, subsequent to the maturity of the Short-Term Loan. As such,reclassification, the Company does not plan to refinanceredeemed the Short-Term Loan when it matures.remaining $200 million. Beginning on July 1, 2003, accrued or paid distributions previously classified as dividends on the preferred members’ interest are prospectively classified as interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

6.12


8. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

     LitigationThe midstream natural gas industry has seen a number of class action lawsuits involving royalty disputes, mismeasurement and mispayment allegations. Although the industry has seen these types of cases before, they were typically brought by a single plaintiff or small group of plaintiffs. A number of these cases are now being brought as class actions. The Company and its subsidiaries are currently named as defendants in some of these cases. Management believes the Company and its subsidiaries have meritorious defenses to these cases, and therefore will continue to defend them vigorously. However, these class actions can be costly and time consuming to defend. Management believes that, the final disposition ofbased on currently known information, these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations, or financial position or cash flows of the Company.

     On September 18, 2001, General Gas Company, LP (“GGC”) filed a lawsuit against the Company claiming damages for breach of contract under a Gas Purchase and Processing Agreement.Insurance The Company then filed counterclaims against GGCcarries insurance coverage, with an affiliate of Duke Energy, that management believes is consistent with companies engaged in similar commercial operations with similar type properties. The Company’s insurance coverage includes (1) commercial general public liability insurance for liabilities arising to third parties for bodily injury and property damage resulting from our operations; (2) workers’ compensation liability coverage to required statutory limits; (3) automobile liability insurance for all owned, non-owned and hired vehicles covering liabilities to third parties for bodily injury and property damage, and (4) property insurance covering the replacement value of all real and personal property damage, excluding electric transmission and distribution lines, including damages arising from boiler and machinery breakdowns, earthquake, flood damage and business interruption/extra expense. All coverages are subject to certain deductibles, terms and conditions common for companies with similar types of operations.

     The Company also maintains excess liability insurance coverage above the established primary limits for commercial general liability and automobile liability insurance. Limits, terms, conditions and deductibles are comparable to those carried by other energy companies of similar size. The cost of the Company’s general insurance coverages continued to fluctuate over the past year reflecting the changing conditions of the insurance markets.

Environmental- The operation of pipelines, plants and other facilities for gathering, transporting, processing, treating, or storing natural gas, NGLs and other products is subject to stringent and complex laws and regulations pertaining to health, safety and the environment. As an owner or operator of these facilities, we must comply with United States and Canadian laws and regulations at the federal, state and local levels that relate to air and water quality, hazardous and solid waste management and disposal, and other environmental matters. The cost of planning, designing, constructing and operating pipelines, plants, and other facilities must incorporate compliance with environmental laws and regulations and safety standards. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may trigger a variety of administrative, civil and potentially criminal enforcement measures, including citizen suits, which can include the assessment of monetary penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements, the issuance of injunctions or restrictions on related contract issues.operation. Management believes that, based on currently known information, compliance with these laws and regulations will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows of the Company.

Severance Program On January 28,October 30, 2003, the Company entered intocommunicated a Compromisecompany-wide voluntary and Settlement Agreement whereby the Company agreedinvoluntary severance program to acquire GGC for $16.5 million, payable in equal installments over three years, beginning on the settlement date. The Compromise and Settlement Agreement

12


settles all claims between the parties. As a resultits employees to reduce approximately 6% of the CompromiseCompany’s workforce. The plan was completed on December 8, 2003 and Settlement Agreement,includes the Company capitalized $6.2reduction of 160 employees over the period of December 2003 to June 2004. The severance liability that was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2003 was $6 million associated with acquired gas supply contracts, recorded a charge to natural gas purchasesat December 31, 2003. Approximately $4 million of $8.1 million and a $0.9 million charge to other current liabilitiesthe accrued severance payouts were paid in the first quarter of 2003.

7. Stock-Based Compensation

     The2004. Included in General and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations during the first quarter of 2004, the Company accounts for its stock-based compensation arrangements under the intrinsic value recognitionexpensed an additional $1 million related to this severance program, and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and the FASB Interpretation No. 44, “Accounting for Certain Transactions Involving Stock Compensation (an Interpretation of APB Opinion No. 25).” Since the exercise price for all stock options granted under those plans was equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant, no compensation costany remaining expense, which is not considered significant, will be recognized in the accompanying Consolidated Statementssecond quarter of Operations. Restricted stock grants, phantom stock awards and Company performance awards are recorded over2004, the required vesting period as compensation cost, based on the market value on the date of the grant. The following disclosures reflect the provisions of SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation — Transition and Disclosure — an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123.”remaining future service period.

     The following table shows what earnings available for members’ interest would have been if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to all stock-based compensation awards.

         
  Three Months Ended March 31,
  
Pro Forma Stock-Based Compensation (in thousands) 2003 2002

 
 
Earnings (deficit) available for members’ interest, as reported $23,909  $(24,125)
Add: stock-based compensation expense included in reported net income  250   301 
Deduct: total stock-based compensation expense determined under fair value-based method for all awards  (1,162)  (1,640)
   
   
 
Pro forma earnings (deficit) available for members’ interest $22,997  $(25,464)
   
   
 
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8.


9. Business Segments

     The Company operates in two principal business segments as follows:segments:

     (1) natural gas gathering, processing, transportation and storage, from which the Company generates revenues primarily by providing services such as compression, treatment,gathering, treating, processing, transportation of residue gas, storage and trading and marketing (the “Natural Gas Segment”), and

     (2) NGLs fractionation, transportation, marketing and trading, from which the Company generates revenues from transportation fees, market center fractionation and storage, and (2) NGL fractionation, transportation,the marketing and trading.trading of NGLs (the “NGLs Segment”).

     Intersegment activity is primarily related to the sale of NGLs from the Natural Gas Segment to the NGLs Segment at market based transfer prices.

     These segments are monitored separately by management for performance against its internal forecast and are consistent with the Company’s internal financial reporting. These segments have been identified based on the differing products and services, regulatory environment and the expertise required for these operations. Margin earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and earnings before interest and taxes (“EBIT”) are theis a performance measures usedmeasure utilized by management to monitor the business of each segment. The accounting policies for the segments are the same as those described in Note 2. Foreign operations are not material and are therefore not separately identified.

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     The following table sets forth the Company’s segment information.

             
      Three
      Months Ended
      March 31,
      
      2003 2002
      
 
      (in thousands)
Operating revenues:        
 Natural gas, including trading and marketing net margin $2,554,724  $1,072,278 
 NGLs, including trading and marketing net margin  499,385   321,800 
 Intersegment (a)  (547,449)  (264,263)
   
   
 
   Total operating revenues $2,506,660  $1,129,815 
   
   
 
Margin:        
 Natural gas, including trading and marketing net margin $295,566  $232,549 
 NGLs, including trading and marketing net margin  15,468   16,055 
   
   
 
   Total margin $311,034  $248,604 
   
   
 
Other operating costs:        
 Natural gas $107,561  $110,747 
 NGLs  2,411   2,401 
 Corporate  39,531   39,157 
   
   
 
   Total other operating costs $149,503  $152,305 
   
   
 
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates:        
 Natural Gas $12,820  $5,649 
 NGLs  (766)  421 
   
   
 
   Total equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates $12,054  $6,070 
   
   
 
EBITDA (b):        
 Natural gas $200,825  $127,451 
 NGLs  12,291   14,075 
 Corporate  (39,531)  (39,157)
   
   
 
   Total EBITDA $173,585  $102,369 
   
   
 
Depreciation and amortization:        
 Natural gas $70,655  $69,187 
 NGLs  3,206   3,318 
 Corporate  3,755   1,254 
   
   
 
   Total depreciation and amortization $77,616  $73,759 
   
   
 
EBIT (b):        
 Natural gas $130,170  $58,264 
 NGLs  9,085   10,757 
 Corporate  (43,286)  (40,411)
   
   
 
   Total EBIT $95,969  $28,610 
   
   
 
   Total corporate interest expense $42,738  $43,309 
   
   
 
Income (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles:        
 Natural gas $130,170  $58,264 
 NGLs  9,085   10,757 
 Corporate  (86,024)  (83,720)
   
   
 
   Total income (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles $53,231  $(14,699)
   
   
 
Capital expenditures:        
 Natural gas $36,166  $103,010 
 NGLs  27   179 
 Corporate  885   3,596 
   
   
 
   Total capital expenditures $37,078  $106,785 
   
   
 

     Three months ended March 31, 2004 (millions):

                     
               
  Natural Gas NGLs (including      
  (including trading trading and Intersegment    
  and marketing net marketing net Eliminations Other  
  margin)
 margin)
 (a)
 (c)
 Total Company
Operating Revenues $2,204  $578  $(380) $  $2,402 
Gross Margin(b)  345   20         365 
Other operating and administrative costs  92   2      41   135 
Depreciation and amortization  67   4      4   75 
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates  17            17 
Interest expense           40   40 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes $203  $14  $  $(85) $132 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Capital Expenditures $23  $  $  $2  $25 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

     Three months ended March 31, 2003 (millions):

                     
  Natural Gas NGLs (including      
  (including trading trading and Intersegment    
  and marketing net marketing net Eliminations Other  
  margin)
 margin)
 (a)
 (c)
 Total Company
Operating Revenues $2,378  $501  $(312) $  $2,567 
Gross Margin(b)  279   17         296 
Other operating and administrative costs  103   2      38   143 
Depreciation and amortization  68   3      4   75 
Earnings from unconsolidated affiliates  13   (1)        12 
Interest expense           42   42 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes $121  $11  $  $(84) $48 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Capital Expenditures $33  $  $  $1  $34 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

14


           
    As of
    
    March 31, December 31,
    2003 2002
    
 
    (in thousands)
Total assets:        
 Natural gas $5,171,216  $5,190,492 
 NGLs  274,204   293,398 
 Corporate (c)  1,963,934   1,081,711 
   
   
 
  Total assets $7,409,354  $6,565,601 
   
   
 

         
  As of
  March 31, December 31,
  2004
 2003
  (millions)
Total assets:        
Natural Gas $4,952  $5,074 
NGLs  262   271 
Corporate (c)  1,281   1,169 
   
 
   
 
 
Total assets $6,495  $6,514 
   
 
   
 
 


(a) Intersegment sales represent sales of NGLs from the Natural Gas Segment to the NGLs Segment at either index prices or weighted-averageweighted average prices of NGLs. Both measures of intersegment sales are effectively based on current economic market conditions.

(b) EBITGross margin consists of net income plus interest expense, income tax expense,total operating revenues less purchases of natural gas and cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles. EBITDApetroleum products. Gross margin is equal to EBIT plus depreciation and amortization. These measures are not a measurement presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered in isolation from orviewed as a substitute for net income or cash flow measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or as anon-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) measure under the rules of the Company’s profitability or liquidity. The measures areSecurities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), but is included as a supplemental disclosure because it may provide useful information regardingis a primary performance measure used by management as it represents the Company’s abilityresults of product sales versus product purchases. As an indicator of our operating performance, gross margin should not be considered an alternative to, service debt and to fund capital expenditures. However, not all EBITDA or EBIT may be available to service debt. These measuresmore meaningful than, net income or cash flow as determined in accordance with GAAP. Our gross margin may not be comparable to a similarly titled measures reported bymeasure of another company because other companies.entities may not calculate gross margin in the same manner.

(c) Includes items such as unallocated working capital, intercompany accounts and intangible and other assets.

9.10. Guarantor’s Obligations Under Guarantees

     At March 31, 2003,On January 1, 2004, the Company was the guarantor of approximately $97.3$3 million of debt associated with non-consolidated entities, of which $84.6 million is related to our 33.33% ownership interest in Discovery Producer Services, LLC, (“Discovery”) and $12.7 million is related to our 50.0% ownership interest in GPM Gas Gathering, LLC (“GGG”).debt. The guaranteed debt related to Discovery is due December 31, 2003, and is expected to be refinanced. The guaranteed debt related to GGG is scheduled to bewas repaid in full byin January 31,of 2004. In the event that the unconsolidated subsidiaries default on the debt payments, the Company would be required to pay the debt. Assets of the unconsolidated subsidiaries are pledged as collateral for the debt. At March 31, 2003,2004, the Company had no liability recorded for the guarantees of the debt associated with the unconsolidated subsidiaries.this debt.

     The Company periodically enters into agreements for the acquisition or divestiture of assets. These agreements contain indemnification provisions that may provide indemnity for environmental, tax, employment, outstanding litigation, breaches of representations, warranties and covenants, or other liabilities related to the assets being acquired or divested. Typically, claims may be made by third parties under these indemnification agreements for various periods of time depending on the nature of the claim. The survivaleffective periods on these indemnification provisions generally have terms of one to five years, although some are longer. The Company’s maximum potential exposure under these indemnification agreements can vary depending on the nature of the claim and the particular transaction. The Company cannotis unable to estimate the total maximum potential amount of future payments under these indemnification provisionsagreements due to the contingent nature ofseveral factors, including uncertainty as to whether claims will be made under these liabilities. In addition, many of these indemnification provisions do not contain any limits on potential liability.indemnities. At March 31, 2003, we2004, the Company had noa liability of approximately $1 million recorded for these outstanding indemnification provisions.

10. Accounting Adjustments

     During 2002, the Company completed a comprehensive account reconciliation project to review and analyze its balance sheet accounts. This account reconciliation project identified the following five categories where account adjustments were necessary: operating expense accruals; gas inventory adjustments; gas imbalances; joint venture and investment account reconciliation; and other balance sheet accounts. As a result of this account reconciliation project, the Company recorded numerous adjustments in 2002. For the quarter ended March 31, 2002, adjustments totaling approximately $11 million may be related to corrections of accounting errors in prior periods. However,

15


management has determined that the charges related to error corrections are immaterial both individually and in the aggregate on both a quantitative and qualitative basis to the trends in the financial statements for the periods presented, the prior periods affected and to a fair presentation of the Company’s financial statements. In addition, numerous items identified in the account reconciliation project resulted from system conversions and otherwise unsupportable balance sheet amounts. Due to the nature of certain of these account reconciliation adjustments, it would be impractical to determine what periods such adjustments relate to. Accordingly, the corrections were made in the first quarter 2002 financial statements.

11. Subsequent Events

     In April and May 2003,     On March 10, 2004, the Company entered into purchasean agreement to acquire gathering, processing and sale agreements with two buyers to sell various gathering, transmission and processing assets plus a minority interest in a partnership owning a gas processing plant,Southeast New Mexico from ConocoPhillips for a total sales priceapproximately $74 million. The transaction closed during the second quarter of $91 million, plus or minus various adjustments that will be made at closing. At March 31, 2003, the book value of these assets was approximately $66 million. Total sales and operating income associated with these assets for the three months ended March 31, 2003 were $93.5 million and $3.6 million, respectively; for the three months ended March 31, 2002, sales and operating income totaled $36.7 and $(0.1) million, respectively. The Company anticipates closing these transactions on June 30, 2003. One of these sales is subject to various regulatory approvals.2004.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     The following discussion details the material factors that affected our historical financial condition and results of operations during the three months ended March 31, 20032004 and 2002.2003. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report.

Overview

     We operate in the two principal business segments of the midstream natural gas industry:

  naturalNatural gas gathering, processing, transportation and storage, from which we generate revenues primarily by providing services such as compression, gathering, treating, processing, transportation of residue gas, storage and trading and marketing (the “Natural Gas Segment”). In the first quarterthree months of 2003,2004, approximately 84%79% of our operating revenues prior to intersegment revenue elimination and approximately 95% of our gross margin were derived from this segment.
 
  NGLs fractionation, transportation, marketing and trading, from which we generate revenues from transportation fees, market center fractionation and the marketing and trading of NGLs (the “NGLs Segment”). In the first quarterthree months of 2003,2004, approximately 16%21% of our operating revenues prior to intersegment revenue elimination and approximately 5% of our gross margin were derived from this segment.
Intersegment activity is primarily related to the sale of NGLs from the Natural Gas Segment to the NGLs Segment at market based transfer prices.

     Our limited liability company agreement limits the scope of our business to the midstream natural gas industry in the United States and Canada, the marketing of NGLs in Mexico and the transportation, marketing and storage of other petroleum products, unless otherwise approved by our board of directors. This limitation in scope is not currently expected to materially impact the results of our operations.

Effects of Commodity Prices

     We are exposed to commodity prices as a result of being paid for certain services in the form of commodities rather than cash. For gathering services, we receive fees or commodities from the producers to bring the raw natural gas from the well headwellhead to the processing plant. For processing services, we either receive fees or commodities as payment for these services, dependingbased on the type of contractual agreement. Based on ourthe Company’s current contract mix, we havethe Company has a long NGL position and are sensitive to changes in NGL prices. We also have a short gas position;position, however, the short gas position is less significant than the long NGL position.

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     We are also exposed Based upon our portfolio of supply contracts, without giving effect to hedging activities that would reduce the impact of commodity price decreases, a decrease of $0.01 per gallon in the price of NGLs and $0.10 per million Btus in the average price of natural gas would result in changes in commodity prices asannual pre-tax net income of approximately $(18) million and $1 million, respectively. In addition, a decrease of $1 per barrel in the average price of crude oil would result in a change to annual pre-tax net income of our NGL and natural gas trading activities. NGL trading includes trading and storage at the Mont Belvieu, Texas and Conway, Kansas NGL market centers to manage our price risk and provide additional services to our customers. Natural gas trading activities are supported by our ownership of a natural gas storage facility and various intrastate pipelines. We undertake these activities through the use of fixed forward sales, basis and spread trades, storage opportunities, put/call options, term contracts and spot market trading. We also execute natural gas and NGL proprietary trades based upon our knowledge and expertise obtained through the operation of our assets and our position as a leading NGL marketer.approximately $(5) million.

     During the first quarterthree months of 2003,2004, approximately 75%80% of our gross margin wasis generated by commodity sensitive arrangements and approximately 25%20% of our gross margin was(excluding hedging and including earnings of unconsolidated affiliates) is generated by fee-based arrangements. We actively manage our commodity exposure as discussed below.

     The midstream natural gas industry is cyclical, with the operating results of companies in the industry significantly affected by the prevailing price of NGLs, which in turn has historically been generally correlated to the price of crude oil. Although the prevailing price of natural gas has less short term significance to our operating results than the price of NGLs, in the long term, the growth of our business depends on natural gas prices being at levels sufficient to provide incentives and capital for producers to increase natural gas exploration and production. In the past, the prices of NGLs and natural gas have been extremely volatile.

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     We generally expect NGL prices to follow changes in crude oil prices over the long term, which we believe will in large part be determined by the level of production from major crude oil exporting countries and the demand generated by growth in the world economy. However, the relationship or correlation between crude oil value and NGL prices declined significantly during 2001 and through the third quarter of 2002. In lateThroughout the remainder of 2002, during 2003 and the first three months of 2004, this relationship strengthened and remained nearreverted back toward historical trend levels during the first quarter of 2003.trends.

     We believe that future natural gas prices will be influenced by supply deliverability, the severity of winter and summer weather and the level of United States economic growth. The price increases in crude oil, NGLs and natural gas experienced during 2000 and first half of 2001 spurred increased natural gas drilling activity. However, a decline in commodity prices in late 2001, continuing into 2002, negatively affected drilling activity. Drilling activity increased in 2003 due to higher commodity prices. The average number of active oil and gas rigs drilling in North Americathe United States increased to 1,3941,157 during the first quarter of 20032004 from 1,201959 during the first quarter of 2002. This increase is mainly attributable to recent significant increases in natural gas prices which could result in sustained increases in drilling activity during 2003. However, energy market uncertainty could negatively impact North American drilling activity in the short term. Lower drilling levels over a sustained period would have a negative effect on natural gas volumes gathered and processed.

     To better address the risks associated with volatile commodity prices, we employ a comprehensive commodity price risk management program. We closely monitor the risks associated with these commodity price changes on our future operations and, where appropriate, use various commodity instruments such as natural gas, crude oil and NGLNGLs contracts to hedge a portion of the value of our assets and operations from such price risks. See “Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative DisclosureDisclosures About Market Risk.” Our first quarter 2003 and first quarter 2002We do not realize the full impact of commodity price changes because some of our sales volumes were previously hedged at prices different than actual market prices. The recognition in the Consolidated Statements of Operations of the cumulative changes in the fair value of these hedge instruments reduced the results of operations include a hedging loss of $39.5by $19 million and $40 million in the first quarter of 2004 and 2003, respectively. See “Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk”.

Effects of Our Raw Natural Gas Supply Arrangements

     Our results are affected by the types of arrangements we use to process raw natural gas. We obtain access to raw natural gas and provide our midstream natural gas services principally under three types of processing contracts:

xPercentage-of-Proceeds Contracts — Under these contracts we receive as our fee a negotiated percentage of the residue natural gas and NGLs value derived from our gathering and processing activities, with the producer retaining the remainder of the value or product. These types of contracts permit us and the producers to share proportionately in commodity price changes. Under these contracts, we share in both the increases and decreases in natural gas prices and NGL prices.
xFee-Based Contracts — Under these contracts we receive a set fee for gathering, processing and/or treating raw natural gas. Our revenue stream from these contracts is correlated with our level of gathering and processing activity and is not directly dependent on commodity prices.
xKeep-Whole and Wellhead Purchase Contracts – Under the terms of a wellhead purchase contract, we purchase raw natural gas from the producer at the wellhead or defined receipt point for processing and then market the resulting NGLs and residue gas at market prices. Under the terms of a keep-whole processing contract, we gather raw natural gas from the producer for processing and then we market the NGLs and return to the producer residue natural gas with a Btu content equivalent to the Btu content of the raw natural gas gathered. This arrangement keeps the producer whole to the thermal value of the raw natural gas we received. Under these types of contracts the Company is exposed to the “frac spread”. The frac spread is the difference between the value of the NGLs extracted from processing and the value of the Btu equivalent of the residue natural gas. We benefit in periods when NGL prices are higher relative to natural gas prices.
xIn addition to the above arrangements, we sell condensate, which is low grade crude oil that is produced in association with natural gas.

     In 2004 and 2003, we converted a gainportion of $7.4 million, respectively.our keep-whole contracts to percentage-of-proceeds contracts and we amended a portion of our keep-whole contracts to add a minimum fee clause. This had the impact of reducing the Company’s exposure to natural gas prices and reducing the exposure to NGL prices.

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     Our current mix of percentage-of-proceeds contracts (where we are exposed to decreases in natural gas prices) and keep-whole and wellhead purchase contracts (where we are exposed to increases in natural gas prices) helps to mitigate our exposure to changes in natural gas prices. Our exposure to decreases in NGL prices is partially offset by our hedging program. Our hedging program reduces the potential negative impact that commodity price changes could have on our earnings and improves our ability to adequately plan for cash needed for debt service and capital expenditures. The primary goals of our hedging program include maintaining minimum cash flows to fund debt service; production replacement and maintenance capital projects; and retaining a high percentage of potential upside relating to increases in prices of NGLs.

Accounting Adjustments

     Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified in the Consolidated Financial Statements to conform to the current period presentation. Included in the reclassified amounts are increases in both Sales of natural gas and petroleum products and in Purchases of natural gas and petroleum products in the amount of approximately $236 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2003. This reclassification resulted from intersegment trading activities being eliminated twice from the Consolidated Statements of Operations in the quarter ended March 31, 2003. Management has concluded that these reclassifications are not material to the fair presentation of the Company’s financial statements.

Results of Operations

           
    Three Months Ended March 31,
    
    2003 2002
    
 
    (in thousands)
Operating revenues:        
 Sales of natural gas and petroleum products $2,458,783  $1,052,929 
 Transportation, storage and processing  82,071   69,577 
 Trading and marketing net margin  (34,194)  7,309 
   
   
 
  Total operating revenues  2,506,660   1,129,815 
 Purchases of natural gas and petroleum products  2,195,626   881,211 
   
   
 
Gross margin (1) $311,034  $248,604 
   
   
 
         
  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2004
 2003
  (millions)
Operating revenues:        
Sales of natural gas and petroleum products $2,332  $2,540 
Transportation, storage and processing  68   61 
Trading and marketing net margin  2   (34)
   
 
   
 
 
Total operating revenues  2,402   2,567 
Purchases of natural gas and petroleum products  2,037   2,271 
   
 
   
 
 
Gross margin (a)  365   296 
Cost and expenses  210   218 
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates  17   12 
   
 
   
 
 
EBIT from continuing operations before Cumulative effect of accounting change (b)  172   90 
Interest expense, net  40   42 
Income tax expense  3   2 
Income from discontinued operations  5   6 
Cumulative effect of accounting change     (23)
   
 
   
 
 
Net income $134  $29 
   
 
   
 
 


(1)(a) Gross margin consists of total operating income before operatingrevenues less purchases of natural gas and maintenance expense, depreciation and amortization expense, general and administrative expense, and other expense.petroleum products. Gross margin is a non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) measure under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), but is included as a supplemental disclosure because it is a primary performance measure used by management as it represents the results of product sales and purchases, a key component of our operations. As an indicator of our operating performance, gross margin should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income or cash flow as determined in accordance with GAAP. Our gross margin may provide useful information regardingnot be comparable to a similarly titled measure of another company because other entities may not calculate gross margin in the impact of key drivers such as commodity prices and supply contract mix on the Company’s earnings.same manner.

(b)EBIT consists of net income from continuing operations before cumulative effect of accounting change, net interest expense and income tax expense. EBIT is a non-GAAP measure under the rules of the SEC, but is included as a supplemental disclosure because it is a primary performance measure used by management as it represents the results of operations without regard to financing methods or capital structure. As an indicator of our operating performance, EBIT should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income or cash flow as determined in accordance with GAAP. Our EBIT may not be comparable to a similarly titled measure of another company because other entities may not calculate EBIT in the same manner.

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Three months ended March 31, 20032004 compared with three months ended March 31, 20022003

Operating Revenues –Total operating revenues decreased $165 million, or 6%, to $2,402 million in the first quarter of 2004 from $2,567 million in the same period of 2003. This decrease was primarily due to the following factors:

xapproximately $185 million was attributable to a $0.90 per MMBtu decrease in average natural gas prices; and
xapproximately $110 million was attributable to lower throughput related to reduced raw natural gas supply volume. Raw natural gas supply volume has decreased due to reservoir decline exceeding new supply from reduced drilling activity and increased plant downtime due to maintenance.

     The decrease in revenues was partially offset by the following factors:

xapproximately $50 million related to higher NGL sales volumes which is primarily the result of wholesale marketing increases, partially offset by lower NGL production due to throughput decline of raw natural gas supply volume;
x$21 million was related to the recognition of cash flow hedge transactions which reduced revenues by $19 million in the first quarter of 2004 compared to a revenue reduction of $40 million in the first quarter of 2003;
xapproximately $15 million was attributable to a $0.01 per gallon increase in average NGL prices;
x$7 million was attributable to higher transportation, storage and processing fees which was primarily due to increased fee revenue associated with growth of our Canadian operations and higher fees from other processing contracts; and
x$36 million was attributable to higher trading and marketing net margins, of which $29 million was related to the Natural Gas Segment and $7 million was related to the NGLs Segment.
The trading and marketing net margin gain of $2 million for the first quarter of 2004 includes $5 million of income related to the NGLs Segment offset by a $3 million loss related to the Natural Gas Segment. The trading and marketing net margin loss of $34 million for the first quarter of 2003 includes a $2 million loss related to the NGLs Segment and a $32 million loss related to the Natural Gas Segment.
Trading and marketing net margin in the Natural Gas Segment experienced losses of approximately $10 million due to derivative trading activities in the first quarter of 2003. The remaining losses included in Trading and marketing net margin in the Natural Gas Segment are primarily attributable to losses on mark-to-market derivatives for which any related physical asset based gains are recognized on an accrual basis and not included in trading and marketing net margin.

Purchases of Natural Gas and Petroleum Products– Purchases of natural gas and petroleum products decreased $234 million, or 10%, to $2,037 million in the first quarter of 2004 from $2,271 million in the same period of 2003. The decrease was due primarily to lower costs of raw natural gas and natural gas liquids supply of approximately $175 million, lower throughput of raw natural gas supply volume of approximately $50 million and $8 million related to a first quarter 2003 contract litigation settlement.

     Gross Margin —Gross margin increased $62.4$69 million, or 25%23% to $311.0$365 million in the first quarter of 20032004 from $248.6$296 million in 2002. Of thisthe same period of 2003. This increase approximately $137 million (net of hedging) was primarily due to the result of a $.27 per gallonfollowing factors:

xapproximately $35 million (net of hedging) was the result of commodity sensitive processing; arrangements, mainly due to higher average NGLs and crude oil prices and lower average natural gas prices;
xapproximately $21 million was the result of $36 million of improved net trading margin offset by approximately $15 million of lower results related to physical natural gas asset based activity;
xapproximately $15 million due to higher margins resulting from renegotiation of marginal supply contracts; and
x$8 million related to expenses incurred in the first quarter of 2003 related to a contract litigation settlement.

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     The increase in average NGL prices. These increases weregross margin was partially offset by approximately $62 million due to a $4.27 per million British thermal units (“Btus”) increase in natural gas prices. These price changes yielded average NGL prices of $.58 per gallon and natural gas prices of $6.59 per million Btus as compared with $.31 per gallon and $2.32 per million Btus during the same period in 2002.following factors:

xapproximately $5 million relating to decreased throughput volume; and
xapproximately $5 million primarily relating to lower margins on NGL inventory sales.

     Gross margin associated with the Natural Gas Segment increased $63.1$66 million, or 27%24%, to $295.6$345 million in the first quarter of 2004 from $232.5$279 million in the same period of 2003, mainly as a result of higher commodity prices. Commodity sensitive processing arrangements accounted for approximately $75 million (net of hedging) of this increase due mainly to the $.27 per gallonfollowing factors:

xapproximately $35 million (net of hedging) was the result of commodity sensitive processing arrangements, mainly due to higher average NGLs and crude oil prices and lower average natural gas prices;
xapproximately $14 million was the result of $29 million of improved net trading margin offset by approximately $15 million of lower results related to physical natural gas asset based activity;
xapproximately $15 million due to higher margins resulting from renegotiation of marginal supply contracts; and
x$8 million related to expenses incurred in the first quarter 2003 related to a contract litigation settlement.

     The increase in average NGL pricesgross margin associated with the Natural Gas Segment was partially offset by approximately $5 million in decreased throughput volumes.

     Gross margin associated with the $4.27 perNGLs Segment increased $3 million, Btuor 18% to $20 million in the first quarter 2004 from $17 million for the same period in 2003. This increase was comprised primarily of a $7 million increase in natural gas prices. Offsetting this increase were decreases due to trading and marketing net margin of a negative $32.8offset by approximately $5 million associated with derivative settlements and markedprimarily relating to market value of unsettled contracts related to our gas trading and marketing activities. Natural gas trading and marketing net margin excludes approximately $20 million realized during the first quarter of 2003lower margins on the Company’s natural gas asset based trading activity which, prior to January 1, 2003, was recorded in trading and marketing net margin. As a result of the rescission of EITF 98-10, this activity is now presented on a gross basis in gas sales and purchases (see Note 2 to Consolidated Financial Statements).NGLinventory sales.

     During the first quarter of 2003, the Company elected to reduce levels of keep-whole processing activities from time to time due to less profitable processing margins. This resulted in lower NGL production and natural gas transported and/or processed.     NGL production during the first quarter of 20032004 decreased 13,40011,000 barrels per day, or 3%, to 375,200357,000 barrels per day from 388,600368,000 barrels per day duringin the first quartersame period of 2002,2003, and natural gas transported and/or processed during 2004 decreased 0.4 trillion Btus per day, or 5%, to 8.07.3 trillion Btus per day from 8.47.7 trillion Btus per day.

     Gross margin associated with the NGLs Segment decreased $0.6 million, or 4% to $15.5 million in the first quarter of 2003 from $16.1 million inday during the same period of 2002. Decreases2003. The primary cause of $8.7 million resultingthe decrease in NGL production was due to reservoir decline exceeding new supply from tradingdrilling activity and marketing net margin were offset by increases in northeast wholesale propane marketing and terminals of $3.6 million, sale of inventory resulting from renegotiation of certain pipeline operating agreements of $1.0 million and higher margins from other NGL assets.increased plant downtime due to maintenance.

     Costs and Expenses —Operating and maintenance expenses increased $13.2 million (excludingdecreased $11 million, in first quarter 2002 accounting adjustments – see Note 10 to Consolidated Financial Statements), or 14%10%, to $110.2$94 million in the first quarter of 20032004 from $97.0$105 million in the same period of 2002. Contributing2003. This decrease was primarily due to this increase werethe following factors:

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xdecreased facility maintenance and pipeline repair of approximately $5 million;
xdecreased labor and benefits of approximately $1 million; and
xdecreased expenses of approximately $5 million related to the consolidation of a previously unconsolidated affiliate as required by FASB Interpretation No. 46 (see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). Certain operating costs paid by us to this affiliate are now eliminated through consolidation against the revenue of this affiliate.


increased expenditures for facility maintenance and pipeline repair of $5 million, environmental compliance of $3 million, and accretion expense associated with SFAS No. 143 implementation (see Note 2 and Note 4 to Consolidated Financial Statements) of $1 million.     General and administrative expenses increased $0.2$3 million, or 1%8%, to $39.4$41 million in the first quarter of 2003,2004, from $39.2$38 million in the same period of 2002.2003. This increase was primarily due to higher incentive compensation.

     Depreciation and amortization expenses were $75 million in both the first quarter of 2004 and 2003.

Interest Expense, net —Interest expense, increased $3.8net, decreased $2 million, or 5%, to $77.6$40 million in the first quarter of 20032004 from $73.8$42 million in the same period of 2002. This increase was due primarily to ongoing capital expenditures for well connections, facility maintenance and enhancements, and the implementation of SFAS No. 143.

     Other costs and expenses decreased $5.3 million to a credit of $0.1 million in the first quarter of 2003 from expense of $5.2 million in the first quarter of 2002. This decrease is due primarily to the first quarter 2002 accounting adjustment for the recognition of a loss on the sale of assets associated with a partnership investment (see Note 10 to Consolidated Financial Statements).

Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates —Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates increased $6.0 million, or 98%, to $12.1 million in the first quarter of 2003 from $6.1 million in the first quarter of 2002. This increase is primarily the result of increased earnings from our general partnership interest in TEPPCO of $3.8 million and the 2002 acquisition of an interest in the Discovery Pipeline located in offshore Gulf of Mexico of $2.8 million.

Interest Expense —Interest expense decreased $0.6 million, or 1%, to $42.7 million in the first quarter of 2003 from $43.3 million in the same period of 2002.2003. This decrease was primarily the result of lower outstanding debt levels.levels and higher cash investments in the first quarter of 2004 compared with the first quarter of 2003.

     Income Taxes —The Company isWe are structured as a limited liability company, which is a pass-through entity for U.SUnited States income tax purposes. First quarter 2003 incomeIncome tax expenses decreased $0.5expense increased $1 million to $1.8$3 million in the first quarter of 20032004 from $2.3$2 million in the same period of 20022003 due primarily to lowerincreased earnings associated with state and foreign tax-paying subsidiaries.

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Income from Discontinued Operations– Income from discontinued operations was $5 million in the first quarter 2004 and $6 million in the first quarter 2003. Income from discontinued operations includes gains on the sale of discontinued operations and the results of such operations in both periods presented (see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

     Cumulative Effect of Changes in Accounting PrinciplesChangeCumulative effect of changes in accounting principles increased tochange was a loss of $22.8$23 million in the first quarter of 2003 from no charge in the first quarter of 2002.2003. Of this amount, $17.4$18 million relates to the implementation of SFAS No. 143, and $5.4$5 million is due to the rescission of EITF 98-10 (see Note 2 to Consolidated Financial Statements).

Net Income —Net income increased $45.7 million to $28.7 million in the first quarter of 2003 from a loss of $17.0 million in the first quarter of 2002. This increase was largely the result of higher NGL prices offset by higher natural gas prices, hedging activity, and the cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

     As of March 31, 2003,2004, we had $36.2$248 million in cash and cash equivalents compared to $24.8$43 million as of December 31, 2002. Our working capital was a $203.9 million deficit2003. Included in cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2003, compared to a $306.22004 was approximately $74 million deficit asdesignated for the anticipated acquisition of gathering, processing and transmission assets in Southeast New Mexico; and approximately $25 million held by our Canadian subsidiaries for their operations. The remaining cash balance was primarily available for general corporate purposes. Current assets exceeded current liabilities by $116 million at March 31, 2004 and current liabilities exceeded current assets by $73 million at December 31, 2002.2003. We rely upon cash flows from operations and borrowings to fund our liquidity and capital requirements. A material adverse change in operations or available financing may impact our ability to fund our current liquidity and capital resource requirements.

Operating Cash Flows

     During the first quarterthree months of 2003, funds of $61.0 million were2004, cash provided by operating activities was $220 million, an increase of $144 million from $76 million in the first three months of 2003. This increase was due primarily to a decrease$105 million increase in net income. Additional increases were the result of $38.2changes in working capital balances and unrealized mark-to-market and hedging activity. The increase in net income is due largely to the favorable effects of commodity prices, net of hedging, improved results from $99.2trading and marketing activities, and decreased operating expenses, partially offset by lower volumes.

     Cash distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates were $19 million in the first quarter 2002. The decrease is primarily due to changesof 2004 and $14 million in working capital balances, unrealized mark-to-market and hedging activity offsetthe first quarter of 2003. These distributions were in excess of earnings from unconsolidated affiliates by an increase$2 million in net income.each period.

     Price volatilityVolatility in crude oil, NGLs and natural gas prices hasand the structure of our commodity supply contracts have a direct impact on our usegeneration and generationuse of cash from operations.operations due to its impact on net income as described in the Effects of Commodity Prices section above, along with the resulting changes in working capital.

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Investing Cash Flows

     During the first quarterthree months of 2003, funds2004, cash provided by investing activities was $44 million, an increase of $17.8$76 million werefrom cash used in investing activities a decrease of $80.0 million from $97.8$32 million in the first quarterthree months of 2002.2003. The increase is partially related to proceeds of $62 million from the sale of discontinued operations. Our capital expenditures consist of expenditures for construction of additional gathering systems, processing plants, fractionators and other facilities and infrastructure in addition to well connections and upgrades to our existing facilities and acquisitions.facilities. For the first quarterthree months of 2003,2004, we spent approximately $37.1$25 million on capital expenditures of continuing operations compared to $106.8$34 million in the first three months of 2003. The decrease is due to reduced well connections and plant upgrades in the first quarter of 2002.2004, as compared to the first quarter of 2003.

     Our level of capital expenditures for acquisitions and construction and other investments depends on many factors, including industry conditions, the availability of attractive acquisition opportunities and construction projects, the level of commodity prices and competition. We expect to finance our capital expenditures with our cash on hand, cash flow from operations, and borrowings available under our commercial paper program,asset sales, our credit facilitiesfacility or other available sources of financing. Our capital expenditures forecast for the year ending December 31, 2004 is approximately $220 million. Depending on cash flow results, redeployment of capital from divestitures and opportunities in the marketplace, 2004 acquisition and capital expenditures may vary from the forecast.

     Investments in unconsolidated affiliates provided $14.3 million in cash distributions to us during the first quarter of 2003.21


Financing Cash Flows

Bank Financing and Commercial Paper

     On March 28, 2003,26, 2004, we entered into a new credit facility (the “New Facility”“Facility”). The New Facility replaces thea credit facility that matured on March 28, 2003.26, 2004. The New Facility is used to support our commercial paper program and for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The New Facility matures on March 26, 2004,25, 2005; however; any outstanding loansborrowings under the New Facility at maturity may, at our option, be converted to a one-year term loan. The New Facility is a $350.0$250 million revolving credit facility, all of which $100.0 million can be used for letters of credit. The New Facility requires us to maintain at all times a debt to total capitalization ratio of less than or equal to 53%; and maintain at the end of each fiscal quarter an interest coverage ratio (defined to be the ratio of adjusted EBITDA, as defined by the Facility, for the four most recent quarters to interest expense for the same period) of at least 2.5 to 1 (see Note 8 for definition of EBITDA);(adjusted EBITDA is defined by the Facility to be earnings before interest, taxes and contains certain restrictions applicable to dividendsdepreciation and amortization and other payments to our members.adjustments). The New Facility bears interest at a rate equal to, at our option and based on our current debt rating, either (1) LIBOR plus 1.25%1.125% per year or (2) the higher of (a) the JP Morgan Chase Bank prime rate plus 0.125% per year and (b) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50%0.625% per year. At March 31, 2003,2004, there were no borrowings or letters of credit drawn against the New Facility.

     On March 28,November 3, 2003, we also entered intoexecuted a $100.0$32 million funded short-term loanirrevocable standby letter of credit expiring on May 15, 2004 to be used to secure transaction exposure with Bank One, NA (the “Short-Term Loan”). The Short-Term Loan is used for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The Short-Term Loan matures on September 30, 2003, and may be prepaid at any time. The Short-Term Loan has the same financial covenants as the New Facility. The Short-Term Loan bears interest at a rate equal to, at our option, either (1) LIBOR plus 1.35% per year or (2) the highercounterparty. As of (a) the Bank One, NA prime rate and (b) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50% per year. We believe that our cash flows and the existing New Facility will be adequate to meet our liquidity needs subsequent to the maturityMarch 31, 2004, this letter of the Short-Term Loan. As such, we do not plan to refinance the Short-Term Loan when it matures.credit was still in effect.

     At March 31, 2003,2004, we had $84.4 million inno outstanding commercial paper, with maturities ranging from one day to 29 days and annual interest rates ranging from 1.53% to 1.55%. At no time did the amount of our outstanding commercial paper exceed the available amount under the New Facility.paper. In the future, our debt levels will vary depending on our liquidity needs, capital expenditures and cash flow.

     In April 2002, we filed a shelf registration statement increasing our ability to issue securities to $500.0$500 million. The shelf registration statement provides for the issuance of senior notes, subordinated notes and trust preferred securities.

     Based on current and anticipated levels of operations, we believe that our cash on hand and cash flow from operations, combined with borrowings available under the commercial paper program andas supported by the New Facility, will be sufficient to enable us to meet our current and anticipated cash operating requirements and working capital needs for

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the next year. Actual capital requirements, however, may change, particularly as a result of any acquisitions or distributions that we may make. Our ability to meet current and anticipated operating requirements will depend on our future performance.

Distributions

     We are required to make quarterly distributions to Duke Energy and ConocoPhillips based on allocated taxable income. Our Limited Liability Company Agreement provides for taxable income to be allocated in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code Section 704(c). This Code section takes into account the variation between the adjusted tax basis and the fair market value of assets contributed to the joint venture. The required distribution is based on the highest taxable income allocated to either member, with the other member receiving a proportionate amount to maintain the ownership capital accounts at 69.7% for Duke Energy and 30.3% for ConocoPhillips. As of March 31, 2004, distributions payable of $11 million were included in Other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. This amount was based on estimated annual taxable income allocated to the members according to their respective ownership percentages and was paid in April 2004.

     In 2003, our board of directors approved a plan to consider the payment of a quarterly dividend to our members. Our board of directors may consider net income, cash flow or any other criteria deemed appropriate for determining the amount of the quarterly dividend to be paid. Our LLC Agreement restricts making distributions, which would include these dividends, except with the approval of both members. During the quarter ended March 31, 2004, with the approval of both members, we paid a dividend of $50 million to the members allocated in accordance with their respective ownership percentages.

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Contractual Obligations, and Commercial Commitments and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

     As part of our normal business, we are a party to various financial guarantees, performance guarantees and other contractual commitments to extend guarantees of credit and other assistance to various subsidiaries, investees and other third parties. To varying degrees, these guarantees involve elements of performance and credit risk, which are not included onin the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The possibility of us having to honor our contingencies is largely dependent upon future operations of various subsidiaries, investees and other third parties, or the occurrence of certain future events. We would record a reservereserves if events occurredoccur that requiredrequire that one be established. See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information on guarantee obligations.

     At March 31, 2003,January 1, 2004, we were the guarantor of approximately $97.3$3 million of debt associated with nonconsolidated entities, of which $84.6 million related to our 33.33% ownership interest in Discovery Producer Services, LLC, (“Discovery”) and $12.7 million is related to our 50.0% ownership interest in GPM Gas Gathering, LLC (“GGG”). The guaranteed debt related to Discovery is due December 31, 2003, and is expected to be refinanced. The guaranteed debt related to GGG is scheduled to be repaid in full by January 31, 2004. In the event that the unconsolidated subsidiaries default on the debt payments, we would be required to pay the debt. Assets of the unconsolidated subsidiaries arewere pledged as collateral for the debt. This debt was repaid in January 2004.

At March 31, 2003,2004, we had no liability recorded for the guarantees of the debt associated with the unconsolidated subsidiaries.

     The Company periodically enters intohave various indemnification agreements for the acquisition or divestiture of assets.outstanding contained in asset purchase and sale agreements. These indemnification agreements contain indemnification provisions that may provide indemnity for environmental, tax, employment, outstanding litigation and other liabilities relatedgenerally relate to the assets being acquiredchange in environmental and tax laws or divested. The survival periods on thesesettlement of outstanding litigation. These indemnification provisionsagreements generally have terms of one to five years, although some are longer. The CompanyWe cannot estimate the maximum potential amount of future payments under these indemnification provisionsagreements due to the contingent natureuncertainties related to changes in laws and regulation with regard to taxes, safety and protection of these liabilities. In addition, manythe environment or the settlement of these indemnification provisions do not contain any limits on potential liability.outstanding litigation, which are outside our control. At March 31, 2003,2004, we had noa liability of $1 million recorded for these outstanding indemnification provisions.

     For an in-depth discussion of our contractual obligations and commercial commitments, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in our Form 10-K for December 31, 2003.

New Accounting Standards

     In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150 (“SFAS 150”), “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity.” SFAS No. 150 improves the accounting forrequires that certain financial instruments that under previous guidance, issuers could accountpreviously be accounted for as equity. SFAS No. 150 requires that those instrumentsequity, be classified as liabilities in statements of financial position.the consolidated balance sheets and initially recorded at fair value. In addition to its requirements for the classification and measurement of financial instruments in its scope, SFAS No. 150 also requires disclosures about the nature and terms of the financial instruments and about alternative ways of settling the instruments and the capital structure of entities, all of whose shares are mandatorily redeemable.instruments. The provisions of SFAS No. 150 are effective for all financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and are otherwise effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company is currently assessing SFAS No. 150 but does not anticipate that it will have a material impactUpon adoption on its consolidated resultsJuly 1, 2003, we reclassified preferred members’ interest, which are mandatorily redeemable, of operations, cash flows$200 million from mezzanine equity to long term debt and prospectively classified accrued or financial position.

     In Aprilpaid distributions on these securities, which had previously been classified as dividends, as interest expense. During 2003, we redeemed the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “Amendmentremaining $200 million of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” which amends and clarifies accounting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embeddedthese securities in other contracts, and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 149 clarifies the discussion around initial net investment, clarifies when a derivative contains a financing component, and amends the definition of an underlying to conform it to language used in FIN 45. In addition, SFAS No. 149 also incorporates certain of the Derivative Implementation Group Implementation Issues. The provisions of SFAS No. 149 are effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003 and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003. The guidance should be applied to hedging relationships on a prospective basis. We are currently assessing SFAS No. 149 but do not anticipate that it will have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.cash.

     In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46 (FIN 46)(“FIN 46”), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.”Entities” which requires the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity’s activities to consolidate the variable interest entity. FIN 46 requires an entity to consolidatedefines a variable interest entity if itas an entity in which the equity investors do not have substantive voting rights and there is not sufficient equity at risk for the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity’s activities.entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support. The primary beneficiary is the party that absorbs a majority of the expected losses and/or receives a majority of the expected residual returns or both, fromof the variable interest entity’s activities. In December 2003, the FASB issued FIN 46R, which supercedes and amends certain provisions of FIN 46. While FIN 46R retains many of the concepts and provisions of FIN 46, isit also provides additional guidance related to the application of FIN 46, provides for certain additional scope exceptions, and incorporates several FASB Staff Positions issued related to the application of FIN 46.

     The provisions of FIN 46 are immediately applicable immediately to variable interest entities created, or interests in variable interest entities obtained, after January 31, 2003.2003 and the provisions of FIN 46R are required to be applied to such entities by the end of the first reporting period ending after March 15, 2004 (March 31, 2004 for us). For those variable interest entities created, or interests in variable interest entities obtained, on or before January 31, 2003, FIN 46 or FIN 46R is required to be applied into special-purpose entities by the end of the first fiscal year or interimreporting period beginningending after JuneDecember 15, 2003.2003 (December 31, 2003 for calendar-year entities) and is required to be applied to all other non-

23


special purpose entities by the end of the first reporting period ending after March 15, 2004 (March 31, 2004 for calendar-year entities). FIN 46 and FIN 46R may be applied prospectively with a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date it is first

21


applied, or by restating previously issued financial statements with a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the beginning of the first year restated. FIN 46 and FIN 46R also requiresrequire certain disclosures of an entity’s relationship with variable interest entities.

     We share ownership interests with other industry partners in a variety of different partnership and joint venture entities in order to share the risks and rewards of ownership in certain gas and NGL plant and pipeline assets. We dodid not provide supplemental financial support to these entities, other than the debt guarantees discussed in Note 9. In general, these entities are structured such that the voting and equity interests in these entities are consistent with the allocation of the entities’ profits and losses. We are continuing the process of examining all of our ownership interests to determine the necessary disclosures and procedures for complying with FIN 46. At this point, we do not anticipate that these entities will qualify asidentify any material variable interest entities created, or interests in variable entities obtained, after January 31, 2003 which require consolidation or disclosure under FIN 46. However, inWe consolidated one entity, previously accounted for under the event that it is determined that any such entities are variable interest entities, we believe that we would not beequity method of accounting, on January 1, 2004 under the primary beneficiary of such entities and thus the consolidation provisions of FIN 46 would not apply. For all46R. This entity, which is a substantive entity, had total assets of these partnership and joint venture entities, we believe that our maximum exposure to loss would be equal to our investment in these entities plus our potential obligations under our guarantees of unconsolidated debt. At March 31, 2003, our total investment in, plus the value of any guaranteed debt for entities that may reasonably possibly be determined to be variable interest entities, was approximately $169 million.

     In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure – an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123.” SFAS No. 148 amends SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, SFAS No. 148 amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. We adopted the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS No. 148$92 million as of December 31, 2002.January 1, 2004. Adoption of the new standardFIN 46R had no material effect on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

     In November 2002,July 2003, the EITF reached consensus in EITF Issue No. 03-11 (“EITF 03-11”), “Reporting Realized Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments that are Subject to FASB issued InterpretationStatement No. 45, “Guarantor’s133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Disclosure RequirementsHedging Activities, and Not Held for Guarantees, Including Indirect GuaranteesTrading Purposes,” that determining whether realized gains and losses on derivative contracts not held for trading purposes should be reported on a net or gross basis is a matter of Indebtedness of Others,” which elaboratesjudgment that depends on the disclosures torelevant facts and circumstances. In analyzing the facts and circumstances, EITF 99-19, “Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent” and Opinion No. 29, “Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions,” should be made by a guarantor about its obligations under certain guarantees issued. It also clarifies that a guarantorconsidered. EITF 03-11 is required to recognize, at the inceptioneffective for transactions or arrangements entered into after September 30, 2003. The adoption of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee. We adopted the initial recognition and measurement provisions of Interpretation No. 45 effective January 1, 2003. Adoption of the new interpretationEITF 03-11 had no material effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

     In May 2003, the EITF reached consensus in EITF Issue No. 01-08 (“EITF 01-08”), “Determining Whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease,” to clarify the requirements of identifying whether an arrangement should be accounted for as a lease at its inception. The guidance in the consensus is designed to mandate reporting revenue as rental or leasing income that otherwise would be reported as part of product sales or service revenue. EITF 01-08 requires both parties to an arrangement to determine whether a service contract or similar arrangement is or includes a lease within the scope of SFAS No. 13, “Accounting for Leases.” The consensus is to be applied prospectively to arrangements agreed to, modified, or acquired in business combinations in fiscal periods beginning on July 1, 2003. The adoption of EITF 01-08 had no material effect on the our consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

     In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities,” which addresses accounting for restructuring and similar costs. SFAS No. 146 supersedes previous accounting guidance, principally EITF No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).”Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change We adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 146 for restructuring activities initiated after December 31, 2002. SFAS No. 146 requiresEITF 02-03 that the liability for costs associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under EITF No. 94-3, a liability for an exit cost was recognized at the date of our commitment to an exit plan. SFAS No. 146 also establishes that the liability should initially be measured and recorded at fair value. Accordingly, SFAS No. 146 may affect the timing of recognizing future restructuring costs as well as the amounts recognized.

     In June 2002, the EITF reached a partial consensus on Issue No. 02-03, “Issues Involved in Accounting for Derivative Contracts Held for Trading Purposes and Contracts Involved in Energy Trading and Risk Management Activities.” The EITF concluded that, effective for periods ending after July 15, 2002, mark-to-market gains and losses on energy trading contracts (including those to be physically settled) must be shown on a net basis in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. We had previously chosen to report certain of its energy trading contracts on a gross basis, as sales in operating revenues and the associated costs recorded as purchases in costs and expenses, in accordance with prevailing industry practice. The amounts in the comparative Consolidated Statements of Operations have been reclassified to conform to the 2003 presentation of all amounts on a net basis.

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     In October 2002, the EITF, as part of their further deliberations on Issue No. 02-03, rescinded the consensus reached in Issue No. 98-10. As a result, all energy trading contracts that do not meet the definition of a derivative under SFAS No. 133, and trading inventories that previously had been recorded at fair values, must now be recorded at the lower of cost or market and are reported on an accrual basis resulting in the recognition of earnings or losses at the time of contract settlement or termination. Newrequired new non-derivative energy trading contracts entered into after October 25, 2002 shouldto be accounted for under the accrual accounting basis. Non-derivative energy trading contracts onrecorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of January 1, 2003 that existed at October 25, 2002 and inventories that were recorded at fair values have beenwere adjusted to the lower of historical cost or market via a cumulative-effectcumulative effect adjustment of $5.4$5 million as a reduction to 2003 earnings. In connection with the consensus reached on Issue No. 02-03, the FASB staff observed that, effective July 1, 2002, an entity should not recognize unrealized gains or losses at the inception of a derivative instrument unless the fair value of that instrument is evidenced by quoted market prices or current market transactions.

     In October 2002, the EITF also reached a consensus on Issue No. 02-03 that, effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2002, all gains and losses on all derivative instruments held for trading purposes should be shown on a net basisearnings in the income statement. Gains and losses on non-derivative energy trading contracts should similarly be presented on a gross or net basis in connection withfirst quarter of 2003.

     We adopted the guidance in Issue No. 99-19, “Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent.” Upon applicationprovisions of this presentation, comparative financial statements for prior periods are required to be reclassified to conform to the consensus other than for energy trading contracts that were shown on a net basis under Issue No. 98-10. Accordingly, for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, only derivative instruments that are held for trading purposes and are accounted for under mark-to-market accounting are included in trading and marketing net margin on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the quarter ended March 31, 2002, trading and marketing net margin also includes the net margin on non-derivative energy trading contracts (primarily gas storage inventories and the related physical purchases and sales) that no longer qualify for net presentation after the rescission of Issue No. 98-10. The new gross versus net revenue presentation requirements had no impact on operating income or net income.

     In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143 (“SFAS 143”), “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” as of January 1, 2003 which addresses financial accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. The standard applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal use of the asset. SFAS No. 143 requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation be recognized in the period in which it is incurred, if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The fair value of the liability is added to the carrying amount of the associated asset. This additional carrying amount is then depreciated over the life of the asset. The liability increases due to the passage of time based on the time value of money until the obligation is settled. We adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 143 as of January 1, 2003. In accordance with the transition provisions of SFAS No. 143, we recorded a cumulative-effectcumulative effect adjustment of $17.4$18 million as a reduction to earnings in 2003 earnings.the first quarter of 2003.

Acquisitions and Dispositions

     In February 2004, we entered into a purchase and sale agreement to sell gas gathering and processing plant assets in West Texas to a third party purchaser for a sales price of approximately $62 million. The transaction closed in the first quarter of 2004 with no significant book gain or loss.

Subsequent Events

     In April and May 2003,On March 10, 2004, we entered into purchasean agreement to acquire gathering, processing and sale agreements with two buyers to sell various gathering, transmission and processing assets plus a minority interest in a partnership owning a gas processing plant,Southeast New Mexico from ConocoPhillips for a total sales priceapproximately $74 million. The transaction closed during the second quarter of $91 million, plus or minus various adjustments that will be made at closing. At March 31, 2003, the book value of these assets was approximately $66 million. Total sales and operating income associated with these assets for the three months ended March 31, 2003 were $93.5 million and $3.6 million, respectively; for the three months ended March 31, 2002, sales and operating income totaled $36.7 and $(0.1) million, respectively. We anticipate closing these transactions on June 30, 2003. One of these sales is subject to various regulatory approvals.2004.

2324


Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risks

Risk and Accounting Policies

     We are exposed to market risks associated with commodity prices, counterparty credit, exposure, interest rates, and, to a limited extent, foreign currency exchange rates. Management has established comprehensive risk management policies to monitor and manage these market risks. Duke Energy Field Services’ Risk Management Committee (“Risk Management Committee”) is responsible for the overall approval of market risk management policies and the delegation of approval and authorization levels. The Risk Management Committee is composed of senior executives who receive regular briefings on the Company’s positions and exposures as well as periodic updates from and consultations with the Duke Energy Chief Risk Officer (CRO) and other expert resources at Duke Energy regarding market risk positions and exposures, credit exposures and overall risk management in the context of market activities. The Risk Management Committee is responsible for the overall management of credit risk and commodity price risk, and various other risks, including monitoring exposure limits.

Commodity Price Risk

     We are exposed to the impact of market fluctuations primarily in the price of NGLs that we own as a result of our processing activities. We employ established policies and procedures to manage our risks associated with these market fluctuations using various commodity derivatives, including forward contracts, swaps, futures and options for non-trading activity (primarily hedge strategies).options. (See Notes 2 and 34 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.)

     Commodity Derivatives — Trading and Marketing— The risk in the commodity trading portfolioand marketing portfolios is measured and monitored on a daily basis utilizing a Value-at-Risk model to determine the potential one-day favorable or unfavorable Daily EarningsValue at Risk (“DER”DVaR”) as described below. DERDVaR is monitored daily in comparison to established thresholds. Other measures are also used to limit and monitor the risk in the commodity trading portfolioand marketing portfolios (which includes all trading and marketing contracts not designated as hedge positions) on a monthly and annual basis. These measures include limits on the nominal size of positions and periodic loss limits.

     DERDVaR computations are based on a historical simulation, which uses price movements over an eleven11 day period to simulate forward price curves in the energy markets to estimate the potential favorable or unfavorable impact of one day’s price movement on the existing portfolio. The historical simulation emphasizes the most recent market activity, which is considered the most relevant predictor of immediate future market movements for crude oil, NGLs, natural gas and other energy-related products. DERDVaR computations use several key assumptions, including a 95% confidence level for the resultant price movement and the holding period specified for the calculation. The Company’s DEROur DVaR amounts for commodity derivativesderivative instruments held for trading and marketing purposes are shown in the following table.table:

Daily EarningsValue at Risk (in thousands)

                 
  Estimated Average Estimated Average High One-Day Impact Low One-Day Impact
  One-Day Impact on One-Day Impact on on EBIT for the on EBIT for the
  EBIT for the three EBIT for the three three months ended three months ended
  months ended March 31, 2003 months ended March 31, 2002 March 31, 2003 March 31, 2003
  
 
 
 
Calculated DER $1,821  $2,280  $6,533  $396 
   
   
   
   
 
(millions)
                 
  Estimated Average Estimated Average High One-Day Low One-Day
  One-Day Impact One-Day Impact Impact on EBIT Impact on EBIT
  on EBIT for the on EBIT for the for the three for the three
  three months ended three months ended months ended months ended
  March 31, 2004
 March 31, 2003
 March 31, 2004
 March 31, 2004
Calculated DVaR $1  $2  $3    
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

     DERDVaR is an estimate based on historical price volatility. Actual volatility can exceed predicted results. DERDVaR also assumes a normal distribution of price changes, thus if the actual distribution is not normal, the DERDVaR may understate or overstate actual results. DERDVaR is used to estimate the risk of the entire portfolio, and for locations that do not have daily trading activity, it may not accurately estimate risk due to limited price information. Stress tests may be employed in addition to DERDVaR to measure risk where market data information is limited. In the current DERDVaR methodology, options are modeled in a manner equivalent to forward contracts which may understate the risk.

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     Our exposure to commodity price risk is influenced by a number of factors, including contract size, length of contract, market liquidity, location and unique or specific contract terms. The unrealized fairEffective January 1, 2003, in connection with the implementation of EITF 02-03, the Company designates each commodity derivative as either trading or non-trading. Certain non-trading derivatives are further designated as either a hedge of a forecasted transaction or future cash flow (cash flow hedge), a hedge of a recognized asset, liability or firm commitment (fair value hedge), or a normal purchase or sale contract, while certain non-trading derivatives, which are related to our asset based marketing, are non-trading mark-to-market derivatives. For each of tradingthe Company’s derivatives, the accounting method and marketing instruments outstanding at March 31, 2003presentation of gains and December 31, 2002 was a gainlosses or revenue and expense in the Consolidated Statements of $7.7 million and a loss of $28.0 million respectively.

24Operations are as follows:

Classification of Contract
Accounting Method
Presentation of Gains & Losses or Revenue & Expense
Trading DerivativesMark-to-marketaNet basis in Trading and marketing net margin
Non-Trading Derivatives:
Cash Flow HedgeHedge methodbGross basis in the same income statement
category as the related hedged item
Fair Value HedgeHedge methodbGross basis in the same income statement
category as the related hedged item
Normal Purchase or Normal SaleAccrual methodcGross basis upon settlement in the
corresponding income statement category
based on commodity type
Non-Trading Mark-to-MarketMark-to-marketaNet basis in Trading and marketing net margin


aMark-to-market- An accounting method whereby the change in the fair value of the asset or liability is recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations in Trading and marketing net margin during the current period.
bHedge method- An accounting method whereby the effective portion of the change in the fair value of the asset or liability is recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and there is no recognition in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the effective portion until the hedged transaction occurs.
cAccrual method- An accounting method whereby there is no recognition in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for changes in fair value of a contract until the service is provided or the associated delivery of product occurs.

     The fair value of theseour mark-to-market contracts is expected to be realized in future periods, as detailed in the following table. The amount of cash ultimately realized for these contracts will differ from the amounts shown in the following table due to factors such as market volatility, counterparty default and other unforeseen events that could impact the amount and/or realization of these values. At March 31, 2003 we held cash or letters of credit of $50.6 million to secure such future performance, and had $20.7 million deposited with counterparties.

     When available, quoted market prices are used to record a contract’s fair value. However, market values for energy trading contracts may not be readily determinable because the duration of the contracts exceedscould exceed the liquid activity in a particular market. If no active trading market exists for a commodity or for a contract’s duration, holders of these contracts must calculate fair value using internally developed valuation techniques or models. Key components used in these valuation techniques include price curves, volatility, correlation, interest rates, and tenor. Of these components, volatility and correlation are the most subjective. Internally developed valuation techniques include the use of interpolation, extrapolation, and fundamental analysis in the calculation of a contract’s fair value. All risk components for new and existing transactions are valued using the same valuation technique and market data and discounted using a LIBOR based interest rate. Valuation adjustments for performance, and market risk and administration costs are used to adjust the fair value of the contract to the gain or loss ultimately recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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     The following table shows the fair value of our tradingmark-to-market portfolio as of March 31, 2003.

                     
  Fair Value of Contracts as of March 31, 2003 (in thousands)
  
              Maturity in 2006    
Sources of Fair Value Maturity in 2003 Maturity in 2004 Maturity in 2005 and Thereafter Total Fair Value

 
 
 
 
 
Prices supported by quoted market prices and other external sources $7,953  $36  $638  $  $8,627 
Prices based on models and other valuation methods  (2,468)  3,076   (648)  (922)  (962)
   
   
   
   
   
 
Total $5,485  $3,112  $(10) $(922) $7,665 
   
   
   
   
   
 
2004:
                     
  Fair Value of Mark-to-Market Contracts as of March 31, 2004 (millions)
  Maturity in Maturity in Maturity in Maturity in 2007 Total Fair
Sources of Fair Value
 2004
 2005
 2006
 and Thereafter
 Value
Trading:                    
Prices supported by quoted market prices and other external sources $5  $3  $(1) $  $7 
Prices based on models and other valuation methods  2         (2)   
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Total Trading  7   3   (1)  (2)  7 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Non-Trading:                    
Prices supported by quoted market prices and other external sources  (6)           (6)
Prices based on models and other valuation methods               
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Total Non-Trading  (6)           (6)
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Total Mark-to-Market $1  $3  $(1) $(2) $1 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

     The “Prices supported by quoted market prices and other external sources” category includes our New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) swap positions in natural gas and crude oil. The NYMEX has currently quoted prices for the next 32 months. In addition, this category includes our forward positions and options in natural gas and natural gas basis swaps at points for which over-the-counter (“OTC”) broker quotes are available. On average, OTC quotes for natural gas forwards and swaps extend 22 and 32 months into the future, respectively. OTC quotes for natural gas options extend 12 months into the future, on average. We value these positions against internally developed forward market price curves that are validated and recalibrated against OTC broker quotes. This category also includes “strip” transactions whose prices are obtained from external sources and then modeled to daily or monthly prices as appropriate.

     The “Prices based on models and other valuation methods” category includes (i) the value of options not quoted by an exchange or OTC broker and (ii) the value of transactions for which an internally developed price curve was constructed as a result of the long dated nature of the transaction or the illiquidity of the market point, and (iii) the value of structured transactions.point. In certain instances structured transactions can be decomposed and modeled by us as simple forwards and options based on prices actively quoted. Although the valuation of the simple structures might not be different from the valuation of contracts in other categories, the effective model price for any given period is a combination of prices from two or more different instruments and therefore has been included in this category due to the complex nature of these transactions.

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     Hedging Strategies— We are exposed to market fluctuations in the prices of energy commodities related to natural gas gathering, processing and marketing activities. We closely monitor the risks associated with these commodity price changes on our future operations and, where appropriate, may use various commodity instruments such as natural gas, crude oil and NGL contracts to hedge the value of our assets and operations from such price risks. In accordance with SFAS No. 133,Our hedging program reduces the potential negative impact that commodity price changes could have on our earnings and improves our ability to adequately plan for cash needed for debt service and capital expenditures. The primary goals of the hedging program include maintaining minimum cash flows to fund debt service, production

27


replacement and maintenance capital projects, and retaining a high percentage of potential upside relating to price increases of NGLs.

     Our primary use of commodity derivatives is to hedge the output and production of assets we physically own. ContractCurrent remaining contract terms are through the end of 2004; however, our risk management guidelines allow for contract terms up to three years, however, sinceyears. Since these contracts are designated and qualify as effective hedge positions of future cash flows, or fair values of assets, owned by us,liabilities or firm commitments, to the extent that the hedge relationships are effective, their market value change impacts are not recognized in current earnings. The unrealized gains or losses on these contracts are deferred in Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income (“OCI”AOCI”) for cash flow hedges or included in Other Current or Noncurrent Assets or Liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets for fair value hedges of firm commitments,commitments. Amounts in accordance with SFAS No. 133. Amounts deferred in OCIAOCI are realized in earnings concurrently with the transaction being hedged. However, in instances where the hedging contract no longer qualifies for hedge accounting, amounts included in OCIAOCI through the date of de-designation remain in OCIAOCI until the underlying transaction actually occurs. The derivative contract (if continued as an open position) will be marked to market currently through earnings. Several factors influence the effectiveness of a hedge contract, including counterparty credit risk and using contracts with different commodities or unmatched terms. Hedge effectiveness is monitored regularly and measured each month.

     The following table shows when gains and losses deferred on the Consolidated Balance Sheets forWe utilize derivative instruments qualifying as effective hedges of firm commitments or anticipated future transactions will be recognized into earnings. Contracts with terms extending several years are generally valued using models and assumptions developed internally or by industry standards. However, asnot only to hedge commodity exposures, but also to hedge interest rate exposures (as discussed in the Interest Rate Risk section on page 29). As mentioned previously, the effective portion of the gains and losses for theseany of our hedging contracts are not recognized in earnings until settlementthe contracts mature at their thenfuture market price. Therefore, assumptions and valuation techniques for these contracts have no impact on reported earnings prior to settlementcontract maturity for the effective portion of these hedges.

     The fair value of our qualifying hedge positions at a point in time is not necessarily indicative of the results realized when such contracts settle.

                     
  Fair Value of Contracts as of March 31, 2003 (in thousands)
  
              Maturity in 2006    
Sources of Fair Value Maturity in 2003 Maturity in 2004 Maturity in 2005 and Thereafter Total Fair Value

 
 
 
 
 
Prices supported by quoted market prices and other external sources $(50,507) $2,368  $2,798  $  $(45,341)
Prices based on models and other valuation methods  (1,356)  (170)        (1,526)
   
   
   
   
   
 
Total $(51,863) $2,198  $2,798  $  $(46,867)
   
   
   
   
   
 
mature. The following table contains the fair value of our hedging contracts, including both commodity hedges and interest rate hedges, as of March 31, 2004:
                     
  Fair Value of Hedging Contracts as of March 31, 2004 (millions)
              Maturity in  
  Maturity in Maturity in Maturity in 2007 and  
Sources of Fair Value
 2004
 2005
 2006
 Thereafter
 Total Fair Value
Prices supported by quoted market prices and other external sources $(24) $9  $3  $(1) $(13)
Prices based on models or other valuation techniques               
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Total $(24) $9  $3  $(1) $(13)
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

     Based upon our portfolio of supply contracts, without giving effect to hedging activities that would reduce the impact of commodity price decreases, a decrease of $.01$0.01 per gallon in the price of NGLs and $.10$0.10 per million Btus in the average price of natural gas would result in changes in annual pre-tax net income of approximately $(25)$(18) million and $5$1 million, respectively. In addition, a decrease of $1 per barrel in the average price of crude oil would result in a change to annual pre-tax net income of approximately $(5) million.

Credit Risk

     Our principle customers in the Natural Gas Segment are large, natural gas marketing services and industrial end-users. In the NGLs segment, our principle customers arerange from large multi-national petrochemical and refining companies to small regional propane distributors. Substantially all of our natural gas and NGLs sales are made at index, market-based prices. Approximately 40% of our NGLs production is committed to ConocoPhillips and Chevron

26


Phillips Chemical LLC,ChevronPhillips, under aan existing 15-year contract with a primary term thatwhich expires on December 31, 2014.in 2015. This concentration of credit risk may affect our overall credit risk in that these customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic, regulatory or

28


other factors. Where exposed to credit risk, we analyze the counterparties’ financial condition prior to entering into an agreement, establish credit limits and monitor the appropriateness of these limits on an ongoing basis. The corporate credit policy prescribes the use of master collateral agreements to mitigate credit exposure. Collateral agreements provide for a counterparty to post cash or letters of credit for exposure in excess of the established threshold. The threshold amount represents an open credit limit, determined in accordance with the corporate credit policy. The collateral agreements also provide that the inability to post collateral is sufficient cause to terminate a contract and liquidate all positions. Substantially all other agreements contain adequate assurance provisions, which would allow us, at our discretion, to suspend deliveries, cancel agreements or continue deliveries to the buyer after the buyer provides security for payment satisfactory to us.

     Despite the current credit environment in the energy sector, management believes that the credit risk management process described above is operating effectively. As of March 31, 2003,2004, we hadheld cash or letters of credit of $50.6$45 million to secure future performance by counterparties, and had deposited with counterparties $20.7$40 million of such collateral to secure our obligations to provide future services.services or to perform under financial contracts. Collateral amounts held or posted may be fixed or may vary depending on the value of the underlying contracts and could cover normal purchases and sales, trading and hedging contracts. In many cases, we and our counterparties’ publicly disclosed credit ratings impact the amounts of collateral requirements.

     Generally speaking, all physical and financial derivative contracts are settled in cash at the expiration of the contract term.

Interest Rate Risk

     We enter into debt arrangements that are exposed to market risks related to changes in interest rates. We periodically utilize interest rate lock agreements and interest rate swaps to hedge interest rate risk associated with new debt issuances.debt. Our primary goals include (1) maintaining an appropriate ratio of fixed-rate debt to total debt for the Company’sour debt rating; (2) reducing volatility of earnings resulting from interest rate fluctuations; and (3) locking in attractive interest rates based on historical averages. As of March 31, 2003,2004, the fair value of our interest rate swapswaps was an asset of $12.8$17 million.

     As of March 31, 2003,2004, we had approximately $84.4 millionno outstanding under a commercial paper program.paper. As a result of our debt and interest rate swaps, we are exposed to market risks related to changes in interest rates. In the future, we intend to manage our interest rate exposure using a mix of fixed and floating interest rate debt. An increase of .5%0.5% in interest rates would result in an increase in annual interest expense of approximately $2.2$2 million.

Foreign Currency Risk

     Our primary foreign currency exchange rate exposure at March 31, 20032004 was the Canadian dollar. Foreign currency risk associated with this exposure was not material.significant.

Item 4.Controls and Procedures

     Within the 90 days prior to the date of this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’sOur management, including the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Executive Officer, have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and concluded that, as of the Company’send of the period covered by this report, the disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them toensuring that all material information relating to the Company required to be includedfiled in this quarterly report has been made known to them in a timely fashion. The required information was effectively recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the Company’s periodic SEC reports. There have been no significant changestime period necessary to prepare this quarterly report. Our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in internal controls, orensuring that information required to be disclosed in factors that could significantly affect internal controls, subsequentour reports under the Exchange Act are accumulated and communicated to management, including the dateChief Financial Officer and the Chief Executive Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

     As disclosed in our 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K, our independent auditor, Deloitte & Touche LLP (Deloitte), noted certain matters involving our internal controls that it considered to be a reportable condition under the standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The reportable condition was not considered by Deloitte to be a material weakness under the applicable auditing standards and Chief Financial Officer completed their evaluation.had no material affect on our financial statements. During the first quarter of 2004, management established additional preventative and detective controls, conducted company-wide training to our employees and implemented procedures and controls to address the identified deficiencies.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

     For information concerning litigation and other contingencies, see Part I. Item 1, Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Commitments and Contingent Liabilities,” of this report and Item 3, “Legal Proceedings,” included in our Form 10-K for December 31, 2002,2003, which are incorporated herein by reference.

     Management believes that the resolution of the matters referred to above will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated results of operations or financial position of the Company.

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

     
(a) Exhibits  
     
 10.0110.1364-Day Credit Facility among Duke Energy Field Services, LLC, Duke Energy Field Services Corporation, JP Morgan Chase Bank, as Agent and the Lenders named therein, dated March 28, 2003.26, 2004.
     
 10.02Letter10.2Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of March 10, 2004, between ConocoPhillips Company and Duke Energy Field Services, LLC and Bank One, NA for funded short-term loan facility dated March 28, 2003.LP.
     
 99.131.1Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
 99.232.2Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
   
 None.  

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SIGNATURES

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC
    
May 15, 200314, 2004DUKE ENERGY FIELD SERVICES, LLC


 
 
 /s/ Rose M. Robeson 
 
Rose M. Robeson 
 
 Rose M. Robeson
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(On Behalf of the Registrant and as
Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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CERTIFICATIONS

I, Rose M. Robeson certify that:

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Duke Energy Field Services, LLC;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: May 15, 2003  
 
/s/ Rose M. Robeson

Rose M. Robeson
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

3031


CERTIFICATIONS

I, Jim W. Mogg certify that:

1.     I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Duke Energy Field Services, LLC;

2.     Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omitIndex to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

c) presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.     The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Exhibits
  
Date: May 15, 2003
/s/ Jim W. Mogg

Jim W. Mogg
Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer

31


EXHIBIT INDEX

     
(a) Exhibits  
     
 10.0110.1 364-Day Credit Facility among Duke Energy Field Services, LLC, Duke Energy Field Services Corporation, JP Morgan Chase Bank, as Agent and the Lenders named therein, dated March 28, 2003.26, 2004.
     
 10.0210.2 LetterAsset Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of March 10, 2004, between ConocoPhillips Company and Duke Energy Field Services, LLC and Bank One, NA for funded short-term loan facility dated March 28, 2003.LP.
     
 99.131.1 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
 99.232.2 Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.