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Enterprise Product Partners Fourth Quarter, Full Year 2021 Results

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   |    Wednesday,February 02,2022

Enterprise Products Partners L.P. announced its financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2021.

Year Ended 2021 Results

Enterprise reported net income attributable to common unitholders for 2021 of $4.6 billion, or $2.10 per unit on a fully diluted basis, compared to $3.8 billion, or $1.71 per unit on a fully diluted basis for 2020. Net income for 2021 and 2020 was reduced by non-cash, asset impairment and related charges of approximately $233 million, or $0.11 per fully diluted unit, and $891 million, or $0.40 per fully diluted unit, respectively. The impairment charges recorded in 2021 were primarily related to our marine transportation business and the sale of our coal bed natural gas gathering system and Val Verde treating facility in the San Juan Basin.

Distributable cash flow (“DCF”) was $6.6 billion for 2021 compared to $6.4 billion for 2020. DCF provided 1.7 times coverage of the distributions declared with respect to 2021. Enterprise retained $2.6 billion of DCF in 2021 to reinvest in the partnership and provide additional financial flexibility. Distributions declared with regard to 2021 increased to $1.8150 per common unit, which marks the partnership’s 23rd consecutive year of distribution growth since our initial public offering in 1998.

Net cash flow provided by operating activities, or cash flow from operations (“CFFO”), was $8.5 billion for 2021 compared to $5.9 billion for 2020. CFFO for 2021 was increased by $1.4 billion, while CFFO for 2020 was reduced by $768 million, for the net effect of changes in operating, or working capital, accounts. After excluding $1.4 billion of cash provided from the net effect of changes in working capital accounts from CFFO for 2021, Enterprise’s payout ratio to common unitholders with respect to 2021 was 58 percent, which includes the return of capital to investors through $4.0 billion of cash distributions to common unitholders and $200 million through common unit buybacks.

Free cash flow (“FCF”) increased to $6.3 billion for 2021 compared to $2.7 billion for 2020 primarily due to cash provided by the net effect of changes to working capital accounts and a decrease in capital expenditures. After excluding $1.4 billion of cash provided from the net effect of changes in working capital accounts from FCF during 2021, Enterprise returned 84 percent of cash flow to investors through distributions and buybacks. Enterprise has now utilized 24 percent of its $2.0 billion buyback program authorized in 2019. In addition, the partnership’s distribution reinvestment and employee unit purchase plans purchased $144 million of Enterprise common units in the open market in 2021.

A. J. “Jim” Teague, co-chief executive officer of Enterprise’s general partner, commented: "We are extremely proud and grateful for the teamwork and contribution of our 7,000 employees to Enterprise’s record 2021. Over the last two years, COVID-19 has whipsawed the global economy, including the U.S. energy sector. Our employees successfully responded to both the challenges and opportunities. In 2021, their efforts enabled three of our four business segments to report record earnings that resulted in the partnership posting record gross operating margin, cash flow from operations and free cash flow.

“During 2021, driven by the rebound in the global economy, Enterprise reported five operational records. These included ethane marine terminal exports, natural gas transportation volumes, propylene production and refined product and petrochemical transportation volumes. Entering 2022, we expect a continuation in the global economic recovery and growth in crude oil, natural gas and NGL production in the United States driven primarily by the Permian Basin and Haynesville shale. We believe both will provide Enterprise a solid economic foundation. The current energy supply disruptions and geopolitical tensions in Europe may have a short-term effect on the global economy. These energy supply disruptions; however, may lead to greater long term international demand for U.S. crude oil, natural gas and NGLs as a source of reliable supply and to mitigate higher global prices, especially for LNG,” said Teague.

Highlights:

• Enterprise increased its cash distribution to $0.465 per common unit with respect to the fourth quarter of 2021, which was a 3.3 percent increase compared to the distribution declared with respect to the fourth quarter of 2020. The distribution will be paid on February 11, 2022 to common unitholders of record as of the close of business on January 31, 2022.

• DCF for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $1.7 billion, which provided 1.6 times coverage of the $0.465 per common unit cash distribution. Enterprise retained $639 million of distributable cash flow in the fourth quarter of 2021.

• CFFO for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $2.1 billion compared to $1.6 billion for the same quarter in 2020, including changes to working capital accounts, which were a net increase of $320 million and a net decrease of $76 million for the fourth quarters of 2021 and 2020, respectively.

• During the fourth quarter of 2021, Enterprise purchased $125 million of its common units in the open market, bringing the total amount of common unit buybacks during 2021 to $200 million. In addition, the partnership’s distribution reinvestment and employee unit purchase plans purchased $37 million of Enterprise common units on the open market during the fourth quarter of 2021.

• Capital investments in the fourth quarter of 2021 were $424 million, which included $99 million of sustaining capital expenditures. Total capital investments for 2021 were $2.2 billion, including $1.8 billion of investments in growth capital projects and $430 million of sustaining capital expenditures.

“Enterprise finished 2021 with a solid fourth quarter. Our quarterly results were driven by another strong quarter from our petrochemical services business, higher natural gas processing margins, an increase in equity NGL production, the continuing recovery in crude oil pipeline volumes to near pre-COVID levels, and record natural gas pipeline volumes,” stated Teague.

“We completed construction and began commercial operations for approximately $670 million of organic growth projects during the fourth quarter, including the Gillis expansion of our Acadian natural gas pipeline system and a natural gasoline hydrotreater. The fully contracted Gillis expansion will deliver growing volumes of Haynesville shale natural gas production to connecting pipelines that supply LNG export facilities in South Louisiana. The partnership’s natural gasoline hydrotreater, located at our Chambers County complex, removes sulfur from natural gasoline to produce a lower emission blendstock for motor gasoline. We currently have $2.2 billion of major capital projects under construction. The largest is our PDH 2 plant, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2023,” continued Teague.

“We were excited to announce the agreement for Enterprise to acquire Navitas Midstream. Navitas gives us an attractive entry point for our natural gas processing and NGL businesses in the prolific Midland basin. We anticipate closing this acquisition in the first quarter of 2022, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Navitas plans to construct an additional natural gas processing plant, which would also provide us an additional organic growth project,” concluded Teague.

4Q 2021 Segment Performance

Enterprise reported total gross operating margin of $2.1 billion for both the fourth quarters of 2021 and 2020. Gross operating margin for the fourth quarters of 2021 and 2020 included net non-cash, mark-to-market activity, which were net losses of $59 million and net gains of $26 million, respectively. Below is a summary review of each business segment’s performance.

NGL Pipelines & Services – Gross operating margin for the NGL Pipelines & Services segment was $1.1 billion for both the fourth quarters of 2021 and 2020.

Enterprise’s natural gas processing and related NGL marketing business reported gross operating margin of $291 million for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to $289 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. Enterprise’s natural gas processing plants reported a $127 million increase in gross operating margin, primarily due to higher average processing margins, including $44 million of condensate sales during the period that are reflected in the results of our Permian Basin processing plants rather than our Permian Basin gathering system in order to align these revenues with their associated costs. Indicative NGL prices for the fourth quarter of 2021 increased 98% to $0.89 per gallon compared to the same quarter in 2020.

Total fee-based processing volumes were 4.0 Bcf/d in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to 4.2 Bcf/d in the fourth quarter of 2020. Equity NGL production this quarter increased to 158 MBPD for the fourth quarter of 2021 from 143 MBPD in the same quarter of 2020 primarily due to increases attributable to our plants in the Permian Basin, Mississippi and Louisiana. Gross operating margin from Enterprise’s NGL marketing activities decreased $126 million, primarily due to an $87 million unfavorable impact from non-cash, mark-to-market activities and a $37 million decrease due to lower average sales margins.

Gross operating margin from the partnership’s NGL pipelines and storage business was $572 million for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to $662 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. NGL pipeline transportation volumes were 3.5 million BPD this quarter compared to 3.7 million BPD for the same quarter in 2020. NGL marine terminal volumes were 651 MBPD this quarter compared to 800 MBPD for the same quarter last year.

Certain of Enterprise’s NGL pipelines, including the Mid-America and Seminole NGL Pipeline Systems, Chaparral NGL Pipeline, and Shin Oak NGL Pipeline, serve the Permian Basin and Rocky Mountain regions. On a combined basis, gross operating margin from these pipelines decreased $50 million, primarily due to lower average transportation and deficiency fees including the impacts of certain contracts associated with the Rocky Mountain segment of our Mid-America Pipeline System that reached their termination dates.

Enterprise’s Hydrocarbons Terminal (“EHT”) and related Channel pipeline, had a combined $35 million decrease in gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2021 versus the same quarter of 2020 primarily due to a 188 MBPD decrease in LPG export volumes and a 158 MBPD decrease in pipeline transportation volumes. The partnership’s Morgan’s Point Ethane Terminal reported a $5 million increase in gross operating margin compared to the fourth quarter of 2020 primarily due to record ethane export volumes of 171 MBPD in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to 132 MBPD in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Gross operating margin from the partnership’s NGL fractionation business increased 27 percent, or $53 million, to $246 million for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. NGL fractionation volumes were 1.3 million BPD for both the fourth quarters of 2021 and 2020.

Gross operating margin from Enterprise’s NGL fractionation complex in Chambers County, Texas increased $34 million, primarily due to higher average fractionation fees and ancillary service revenues, partially offset by higher operating costs. The newly constructed natural gasoline hydrotreater, which commenced operations in October 2021, contributed $7 million to gross operating margin during the fourth quarter of 2021.

Crude Oil Pipelines & Services – Gross operating margin from the Crude Oil Pipelines & Services segment was $438 million for the fourth quarter of 2021 versus $428 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. Included in gross operating margin are non-cash, mark-to-market losses of $3 million and $9 million in the fourth quarters of 2021 and 2020, respectively. Total crude oil pipeline transportation volumes increased to 2.3 million BPD for the fourth quarter of 2021 from 2.0 million BPD for the fourth quarter of 2020. Total crude oil marine terminal volumes increased 23 percent to 649 MBPD for the fourth quarter of 2021 from 529 MBPD for the same quarter in 2020.

Gross operating margin from Enterprise’s Midland-to-ECHO Pipeline System and related marketing activities increased $12 million for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, primarily due to a 179 MBPD increase in pipeline volumes, net to the partnership’s ownership interest.

Higher crude oil terminal revenues from the partnership’s Midland and ECHO crude oil terminals contributed an aggregate $10 million increase to gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.

Gross operating margin from crude oil activities at EHT located on the Houston Ship Channel for the fourth quarter of 2021 decreased $14 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, primarily due to lower storage and throughput revenues.

Natural Gas Pipelines & Services – Gross operating margin for the Natural Gas Pipelines & Services segment was $195 million for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to $226 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. Gross operating margin for the fourth quarters of 2021 and 2020 included non-cash, mark-to-market losses of $2 million and $4 million, respectively. Total natural gas transportation volumes were a record 14.6 TBtus/d for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to 13.7 TBtus/d for the fourth quarter of 2020.

Enterprise’s Permian Basin gathering system reported a $21 million decrease in gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the same quarter in 2020, primarily due to $44 million of condensate sales during the period being included in our Permian Basin gas processing plant results, and a 276 BBtus/d decrease in gathering volumes.

Gross operating margin from the Texas Intrastate System decreased $18 million, primarily due to lower capacity reservation fees, partially offset by higher transportation volumes and higher storage and other fees. Transportation volumes increased to 5.2 TBtus/d in the fourth quarter of 2021 from 4.6 TBtus/d for the fourth quarter of 2020.

Enterprise’s Acadian Gas System and Haynesville Gathering System reported a combined $7 million increase in gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, primarily due to higher capacity reservation fees and higher transportation volumes, which increased by an aggregate 493 BBtus/d.

Petrochemical & Refined Products Services – Gross operating margin for the Petrochemical & Refined Products Services segment increased 14 percent, to $338 million for the fourth quarter of 2021 from $297 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. Gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2021 included non-cash, mark-to-market losses of $4 million compared to $1 million of non-cash, mark-to-market gains in the fourth quarter of 2020. Total segment pipeline transportation volumes were 704 MBPD for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to 867 MBPD for the same quarter last year. Marine terminal volumes were 207 MBPD for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to 297 MBPD for the fourth quarter of 2020.

The partnership’s propylene production and related businesses reported a $20 million increase in gross operating margin to $189 million for the fourth quarter of 2021. Total propylene production volumes were 105 MBPD in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to 104 MBPD for the same quarter last year. Enterprise’s Chambers County Propylene Production facilities, which includes its propylene fractionators and propane dehydrogenation (“PDH”) I facility, had a $23 million increase in gross operating margin in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the same quarter in 2020, primarily due to higher average sales margins, fractionation fees and sales volumes.

Gross operating margin from ethylene exports and related activities increased $25 million this quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. The partnership’s ethylene export marine terminal contributed $12 million to the increase in gross operating margin, primarily due to a 10 MBPD, net to our interest, increase in export volumes. Enterprise’s ethylene pipeline and storage facilities reported an $8 million increase in gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the same quarter in 2020 as a result of higher transportation volumes and storage fees. Related ethylene marketing activities increased $6 million for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the same quarter in 2020 primarily due to higher sales volumes.

Gross operating margin from Enterprise’s octane enhancement, isobutane dehydrogenation (“iBDH”) and related operations increased $12 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the fourth quarter of 2020 primarily due to higher average sales margins, partially offset by lower sales volumes.

Enterprise’s refined products pipeline and related activities reported a $16 million decrease in gross operating margin for the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, primarily due to lower average sales margins.

Capitalization

Total debt principal outstanding at December 31, 2021 was $29.8 billion, including $2.6 billion of junior subordinated notes, to which the debt rating agencies ascribe partial equity content. At December 31, 2021, Enterprise had consolidated liquidity of approximately $7.3 billion, comprised of $4.5 billion of available borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facilities and $2.8 billion of unrestricted cash on hand.

Capital Investments

Total capital investments in the fourth quarter of 2021 were $424 million, which included $325 million for growth capital projects and $99 million of sustaining capital expenditures. Total capital investments in 2021 were $2.2 billion, which included investments in growth capital projects of $1.8 billion and $430 million of sustaining capital expenditures.

For 2022, we expect growth capital investments to be approximately $1.5 billion. This estimate does not include capital investments associated with the partnership’s proposed deepwater Seaport Oil Terminal (“SPOT”), which remains subject to governmental approval. We currently expect sustaining capital expenditures for 2022 to be approximately $350 million.