Kinetik (KNTK) Risk Analysis

The Company does not conduct hydraulic fracturing operations, but substantially all the saltwater, crude oil and natural gas production of its customers is developed from unconventional sources that require hydraulic fracturing as part of the completion process. Hydraulic fracturing is a well stimulation process that utilizes large volumes of water and sand combined with fracturing chemical additives that are pumped at high pressure to crack open previously impenetrable rock to release hydrocarbons. There has been increasing public controversy regarding hydraulic fracturing with regard to the use of fracturing fluids, induced seismic activity, impacts on drinking water supplies, use of water and the potential for impacts to surface water, groundwater and the environment generally. Hydraulic fracturing is typically regulated by state oil and gas commissions and similar agencies. Some states and local governments, including those in which the Company operates, have adopted, and other states are considering adopting regulations that could impose more stringent disclosure or well construction requirements on hydraulic fracturing operations. In addition, several states and local governments have banned or significantly restricted hydraulic fracturing and, over the past several years, federal agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") have sought to assert jurisdiction over the process. While the EPA has previously sought to relax environmental regulation and reduce enforcement efforts, including with respect to energy developed from unconventional sources, environmental groups and states have filed lawsuits challenging the EPA's recent actions. The Company cannot predict the results of these or future lawsuits, or how such lawsuits will affect the regulation of hydraulic fracturing operations. Certain environmental groups have also suggested that additional laws at the federal, state and local levels of government may be needed to more closely and uniformly regulate the hydraulic fracturing process. The Company cannot predict whether any such legislation will be enacted and if so, what its provisions will be. Governmental actions such as these could impact the oil and gas industry and the Company's future potential growth in such areas. Additional levels of regulation and permits required through the adoption of new laws and regulations at the federal, state or local level could lead to delays, increased operating costs and process prohibitions that could reduce the volumes of crude oil and natural gas that move through the Company's gathering systems and decrease demand for its water services, which in turn could materially and adversely impact its revenues. In recent history, public concern surrounding increased seismicity has heightened focus on the oil and gas industry's use of water in operations, which may cause increased costs, regulations or environmental initiatives impacting the use or disposal of water. The adoption of federal, state and local legislation and regulations intended to address induced seismicity in the areas in which the Company operates could restrict drilling and production activities and could result in increased costs and additional operating restrictions or delays, that could, in turn, materially and adversely impact the Company's business and results of operations.

Some of the Company's pipelines are subject to regulation by the PHMSA pursuant to the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 ("NGPSA"), with respect to natural gas, and the HLPSA, with respect to crude oil and NGLs. Both the NGPSA and the HLPSA were amended by the Pipeline Safety Act of 1992, the Accountable Pipeline Safety and Partnership Act of 1996, the PSIA, as reauthorized and amended by the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement and Safety Act of 2006, and the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty and Job Creation Act of 2011. The NGPSA and HLPSA regulate safety requirements in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of natural gas, crude oil and NGL pipeline facilities, while the PSIA establishes mandatory inspections for all U.S. crude oil, NGL and natural gas transmission pipelines in HCAs. PHMSA has developed regulations that require pipeline operators to implement integrity management programs, including more frequent inspections and other measures to ensure pipeline safety in HCAs. The regulations require operators, including the Company, to: - perform ongoing assessments of pipeline integrity;- identify and characterize applicable threats to pipeline segments that could impact an HCA;- improve data collection, integration and analysis;- repair and remediate pipelines as necessary; and - implement preventive and mitigating actions. PHMSA may revise these standards from time-to-time and additional future regulatory action expanding PHMSA's jurisdiction and imposing stricter integrity management requirements is possible. The adoption of laws or regulations that apply more comprehensive or stringent safety standards could require the Company to install new or modified safety controls, pursue new capital projects or conduct maintenance programs on an accelerated basis, all of which could require the Company to incur increasing operating costs that may be significant. Further, should the Company fail to comply with PHMSA or comparable state regulations, it could be subject to substantial fines and penalties.

Natural gas and crude oil gathering may receive greater regulatory scrutiny at the federal and state level. Therefore, the Company's natural gas and crude oil gathering operations could be adversely affected should they become subject to the application of federal or state regulation of rates and services. The Company's gathering operations could also be subject to safety and operational regulations relating to the design, construction, testing, operation, replacement and maintenance of gathering facilities. Intrastate transportation of NGLs and crude oil may also receive greater regulatory scrutiny at the federal and state level. The Company's intrastate NGL transportation services are subject to TRRC regulations and must be provided in a manner that is just, reasonable and non-discriminatory. Such operations could be subject to additional regulation if the NGLs and crude oil are transported in interstate or through foreign commerce, whether by the Company's pipelines or other means of transportation. The Company cannot predict what effect, if any, such changes might have on its operations, but it could be required to incur additional capital expenditures and increased operating costs depending on future legislative and regulatory changes. The Company's midstream and intrastate transportation and storage services that are regulated are generally subject to rate regulation and the regulation of the terms and conditions of service. If we do not comply with these regulations, we may be subject to claims for refunds of amounts charged, the modification, cancellation or suspension of a permit or other authorization, civil penalties and other relief. Additional rules and legislation pertaining to these matters are considered or adopted from time to time. The Company cannot predict what effect, if any, such changes might have on its operations, but the industry could be required to incur additional capital expenditures and increased costs depending on future legislative and regulatory changes.

The operations of the third parties on whom the Company relies to provide downstream transportation and delivery options from its processing system are subject to complex and stringent laws and regulations that require obtaining and maintaining numerous permits, approvals and certifications from various federal, state and local government authorities. These third parties may incur substantial costs in order to comply with existing laws and regulations. If existing laws and regulations governing such third-party services are revised or reinterpreted, or if new laws and regulations become applicable to their operations, these changes may affect the costs that the Company pays for services. Similarly, a failure to comply with such laws and regulations by the third parties could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, results of operations, and financial condition.