Lack of Access to These 3 Things Could Upend BreitBurn Energy Partners LP in the Future

BreitBurn Energy Partners LP's annual report is littered with risk factors that could impact the company's operations. Obviously, risk number one is the volatility of oil and gas prices. In fact, oil and gas prices are namedin the company's first three risk factors in that annual report.

However, the company faces a number of additional risks outside of oil and gas prices. One running theme in its annual report was the fact that the company needs unhindered access to key products or markets in order to keep operating at optimal capacity. Because of this, if its access is limited in the future it could upend BreitBurn's operations and send units prices down.

No. 1: Access to capitalOne risk factor that BreitBurn Energy Partners highlighted several times in its annual report was its access to capital. In the report it noted:

This risk has been very evident over the past year as BreitBurn Energy Partners attempted to raise new debt late last year to pay down its credit facility. It didn't like the terms, so it pulled back the offer. That forced the company to turn to private equity to raise capital, which it just did, bringing in $1 billion in debt and equity to pay down its credit facility.

The company also noted two more capital related risks in its annual report that investors need to keep an eye on. First, it noted that "our credit facility has substantial restrictions and financial covenants that may restrict our business and financing activities and our ability to pay distributions." The risk has an obvious direct impact on investors as the company's distribution has already been cut twice this year and could be cut again, or eliminated, if its banks start to worry.

In addition to that, the company notes that its "debt levels may limit our flexibility to obtain additional financing and pursue other business opportunities." Again, we saw this first hand as BreitBurn couldn't get new debt financing on acceptable terms, forcing it to take whatever private equity would give it.

No. 2: Access to carbon dioxide Capital isn't the only thing BreitBurn Energy Partners needs to keep its business operating. The company also needs continued access to carbon dioxide for its enhance oil recovery operations in Oklahoma, which were acquired from Whiting Petroleumin 2013. BreitBurn relies on outside sources to supply it with this carbon. While those supplies are backed by contracts with suppliers, that doesn't necessarily mean they'll always flow.

Without unfettered access BreitBurn warns that "the production from our Oklahoma properties could be adversely affected by the cessation or interruption of the supply of carbon dioxide to those properties." That's because the company needs it to produce oil and gas, so without it the production would decline and so would the company's cash flow.

No. 3: Access to pipelinesOne thing that could impact the company's carbon dioxide supplies would be a pipeline shutdown. That's not just a risk for its carbon supplies as BreitBurn Energy Partners also faces the risk of a pipeline shutdown that could prevent its oil and gas production from reaching customers.

In its annual report the company noted:

Should a pipeline leak or processing plant downtime occur it could cause BreitBurn's production to be shut in at the well head for quite some time. This would lead to weaker than expected production and cash flow, causing the company to miss expectations, likely sending units lower.

Investor takeawayBreitBurn Energy Partners needs unrestricted access to capital, carbon dioxide, and pipelines in order to maintain smooth operations. If its access to any of these is cut, it could have a deep impact on the company's business, causing the unit price to sell off.

The article Lack of Access to These 3 Things Could Upend BreitBurn Energy Partners LP in the Future originally appeared on Fool.com.

Matt DiLallo has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends BreitBurn Energy Partners. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.