Western Midstream Partners, LP

(1)Average for period. Calculated as Adjusted Gross Margin for natural-gas assets, crude-oil and NGLs assets, or produced-water assets, divided by the respective total throughput (MMcf or MBbls) attributable to WES for natural-gas assets, crude-oil and NGLs assets, or produced-water assets.

Adjusted Gross Margin.

Adjusted Gross Margin decreased by $7.6 million compared to the three months ended December 31, 2024, primarily due to (i) decreased throughput, partially offset by increased deficiency fees at the DJ Basin complex, (ii) decreased throughput and annual cumulative catch-up adjustments for cost-of-service changes that increased revenue during the fourth quarter of 2024 at the DJ Basin oil and Springfield systems, and (iii) decreased throughput and an amendment to contract terms effective January 1, 2025, at the DBM water systems. These decreases were offset partially by increased product recoveries and increased average prices at the West Texas complex.

Adjusted Gross Margin increased by $15.7 million compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to (i) increased throughput at the West Texas and Powder River Basin complexes and (ii) increased throughput and higher average fees resulting from cost-of-service rate redeterminations effective January 1, 2025, at the DBM oil system. These increases were offset partially by (i) the sale of our interests in the Marcellus Interest systems, Saddlehorn, and Mont Belvieu JV during 2024, and (ii) a contract change effective during the first quarter of 2024 at the Granger complex.

Per-Mcf Adjusted Gross Margin for natural-gas assets increased by $0.05 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2024, primarily due to increased product recoveries and increased average prices at the West Texas complex.

Per-Mcf Adjusted gross margin for natural-gas assets increased by $0.02 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to (i) increased throughput at the West Texas complex, which has a higher-than-average per-Mcf margin as compared to our other natural-gas assets, and (ii) the sale of our interest in the Marcellus Interest systems in the second quarter of 2024, which had a lower-than-average per-Mcf margin compared to our other natural-gas assets.

Per-Bbl Adjusted Gross Margin for crude-oil and NGLs assets increased by $0.17 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2024, primarily due to (i) increased distributions at FRP and (ii) decreased throughput at TEP, which had a lower-than-average per-Bbl margin as compared to our other crude-oil and NGLs assets. These increases were offset partially by a decrease resulting from an annual cumulative catch-up adjustment for cost-of-service changes that increased revenue during the fourth quarter of 2024 at the DJ Basin oil system.

Per-Bbl Adjusted gross margin for crude-oil and NGLs assets increased by $0.25 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to (i) the sale of our interests in Saddlehorn and Mont Belvieu JV in the first quarter of 2024 and decreased throughput at TEP, all of which had lower-than-average per-Bbl margins as compared to our other crude oil and NGLs assets, and (ii) increased distributions at FRP. These increases were offset partially by decreased revenues associated with demand volumes, partially offset by increased throughput and higher average fees resulting from cost-of-service rate redeterminations effective January 1, 2025, at the DJ Basin oil system.

Per-Bbl Adjusted Gross Margin for produced-water assets decreased by $0.02 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2024, primarily due to a change in contract terms effective January 1, 2025, and decreased throughput.

Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA increased by $2.9 million compared to the three months ended December 31, 2024, primarily due to (i) an $8.1 million decrease in general and administrative expenses excluding non-cash equity-based compensation expense, (ii) a $4.7 million decrease in operation and maintenance expenses, and (iii) a $2.8 million increase in distributions from equity investments. These amounts were offset partially by (i) an $11.4 million decrease in total revenues and other and (ii) a $2.0 million increase in cost of product (net of lower of cost or market inventory adjustments).

Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $14.8 million compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to (i) a $31.6 million increase in operation and maintenance expenses, (ii) a $14.0 million decrease in distributions from equity investments, and (iii) a $3.9 million increase in property taxes. These amounts were offset partially by (i) a $29.4 million increase in total revenues and other and (ii) a $4.7 million decrease in cost of product (net of lower of cost or market inventory adjustments).

Free Cash Flow. Free Cash Flow increased by $90.1 million compared to the three months ended December 31, 2024, primarily due to (i) a $96.4 million decrease in capital expenditures, (ii) a $9.7 million decrease in contributions to equity investments, and (iii) a $7.7 million increase in distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings. These amounts were offset partially by a $23.7 million decrease in net cash provided by operating activities.

Free Cash Flow increased by $174.4 million compared to the three months ended March 31, 2024, primarily due to (i) a $131.1 million increase in net cash provided by operating activities and (ii) a $51.4 million decrease in capital expenditures. These amounts were offset partially by an $8.0 million decrease in distributions from equity investments in excess of cumulative earnings.

See Capital Expenditures and Historical Cash Flow within this Item 2 for further information.