The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this Quarterly Report, as well as our Annual Report.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Please refer to the "Financial Results and Operating Information" and "Liquidity and Capital Resources" sections of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in this Quarterly Report for additional information.

Market Conditions and Business Update - We experienced increased volumes in the first quarter 2022, compared with the first quarter 2021, due primarily to increased producer activity in the Rocky Mountain region, increased ethane production across our system, the impact of Winter Storm Uri in the first quarter 2021 and completed capital-growth projects, highlighting our extensive and integrated assets that are located in some of the most productive shale basins in the United States. Although the energy industry has experienced many up and down commodity cycles, we have positioned ourselves to reduce exposure to direct commodity price volatility. Each of our three reportable segments are primarily fee-based, and we expect our consolidated earnings to be approximately 90% fee-based in 2022. While our Natural Gas Gathering and Processing segment's earnings are primarily fee-based, we have direct commodity price exposure related primarily to fee with POP contracts. In addition, our Natural Gas Gathering and Processing and Natural Gas Liquids segments are exposed to volumetric risk as a result


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Table of C ontents of drilling and completion activity, normal volumetric well declines which are offset partially by rising gas-to-oil ratios, severe weather disruptions, operational outages and crude oil, NGL and natural gas demand. Our Natural Gas Pipelines segment is not exposed to significant volumetric risk due to nearly all of our capacity being subscribed under long-term, firm fee-based contracts.

Recent geopolitical events have disrupted global supply chains and have caused volatile commodity prices for natural gas, NGLs and crude oil. The United States has banned the import of Russian oil and other energy commodities, and European countries have taken steps to reduce imports of Russian oil and natural gas. These events have highlighted the importance of a strong national energy infrastructure supporting the United States economy and national security. We operate an integrated, reliable, resilient and diversified network of NGL and natural gas gathering, processing, fractionation, storage and transportation assets connecting supply in the Rocky Mountain, Mid-Continent, Permian and Gulf Coast regions with key market centers. We believe our assets are well positioned to provide midstream services to producers as they respond to increased domestic and international demand.

See Part I, Item 3, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, in this Quarterly Report for more information on our exposure to market risk.

Natural Gas - In our Natural Gas Gathering and Processing segment, gathered and processed volumes increased in the first quarter 2022, compared with the first quarter 2021, due primarily to increased producer activity in the Rocky Mountain region.

In our Natural Gas Pipelines segment, continued demand from local distribution companies, electric-generation facilities and large industrial companies resulted in low-cost expansions that position us well to provide additional services to our customers. In April 2022, we completed a 1.1 Bcf expansion of our Texas natural gas storage facilities' capacities. We are currently expanding the injection capabilities of our Oklahoma natural gas storage facilities resulting in the ability to utilize and subscribe an additional 4 Bcf of our existing storage capacity, with expected completion in second quarter 2023.

NGLs - In our Natural Gas Liquids segment, NGL volumes increased in the first quarter 2022, compared with the first quarter 2021, due primarily to increased ethane production across our system, the unfavorable impact of Winter Storm Uri in the first quarter 2021 and increased production in the Rocky Mountain and Mid-Continent regions and Permian Basin.

Ethane Production - Price differentials between ethane and natural gas can cause natural gas processors to extract ethane or leave it in the natural gas stream, known as ethane rejection. As a result of these ethane economics, ethane volumes on our system can fluctuate. Ethane volumes under long-term contracts delivered to our NGL system increased approximately 105 MBbl/d to an average of 460 MBbl/d in the first quarter 2022, compared with 355 MBbl/d in 2021, due primarily to changes in ethane extraction economics. We estimate that there are more than 225 MBbl/d of discretionary ethane, consisting of more than 125 MBbl/d in the Rocky Mountain region and approximately 100 MBbl/d in the Mid-Continent region, that can be recovered and transported on our system.

Growth Projects - We announced plans in late 2021 to restart construction on our 200 MMcf/d Demicks Lake III natural gas processing plant in the Williston Basin and our 125 MBbl/d MB-5 fractionator in Mont Belvieu, Texas, which are now expected to be completed in the first quarter 2023 and second quarter 2023, respectively. See "Executive Summary" in Part I, Item 1, Business and "Recent Developments" in Part II, Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in our Annual Report for more information on our growth projects.

Sustainability and Social Responsibility - In 2021 and 2022, we qualified for inclusion in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook and received a perfect score of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index. In 2021, we received an MSCI Inc. ESG Rating of AA, were named to JUST Capital's list of Top 100 U.S. Companies Supporting Healthy Families and Communities and received an ESG Risk Rating placing us in the top 10% in the refiners and pipelines industry assessed by Sustainalytics. We continue to look for ways to reduce our environmental impact and utilize more efficient technologies. We are evaluating the development of renewable energy and low-carbon projects, including opportunities that may complement our extensive midstream assets and expertise.

Dividends - In February 2022, we maintained and paid a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.935 per share ($3.74 per share on an annualized basis), which is consistent with the same quarter in the prior year. We declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.935 per share ($3.74 per share on an annualized basis) in April 2022. The quarterly common stock dividend will be paid May 16, 2022, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 2, 2022.


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  Table of C    ontents
FINANCIAL RESULTS AND OPERATING INFORMATION

How We Evaluate Our Operations

Management uses a variety of financial and operating metrics to analyze our performance. Our consolidated financial metrics include: (1) operating income; (2) net income; (3) diluted EPS; and (4) adjusted EBITDA. We evaluate segment operating results using adjusted EBITDA and our operating metrics, which include various volume and rate statistics that are relevant for the respective segment. These operating metrics allow investors to analyze the various components of segment financial results in terms of volumes and rate/price. Management uses these metrics to analyze historical segment financial results and as the key inputs for forecasting and budgeting segment financial results. For additional information on our operating metrics, see the respective segment subsections of this "Financial Results and Operating Information" section.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures - Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure of our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income adjusted for interest expense, depreciation and amortization, noncash impairment charges, income taxes, allowance for equity funds used during construction, noncash compensation expense and certain other noncash items. We believe this non-GAAP financial measure is useful to investors because it and similar measures are used by many companies in our industry as a measurement of financial performance and is commonly employed by financial analysts and others to evaluate our financial performance and to compare financial performance among companies in our industry. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to net income, EPS or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, this calculation may not be comparable with similarly titled measures of other companies.

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