Phillips 66PSX
Phillips 66 Commitments Disclosure
Contingencies and Commitments
A number of lawsuits involving a variety of claims that arose in the ordinary course of business have been filed against us or are subject to indemnifications provided by us. We also may be required to remove or mitigate the effects on the environment of the placement, storage, disposal or release of certain chemical, mineral and petroleum substances at various active and inactive sites. We regularly assess the need for financial recognition or disclosure of these contingencies. In the case of all known contingencies (other than those related to income taxes), we accrue a liability when the loss is probable and the amount is reasonably estimable. If a range of amounts can be reasonably estimated and no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, then the minimum of the range is accrued. We do not reduce these liabilities for potential insurance or third-party recoveries. If applicable, we accrue receivables for probable insurance or other third-party recoveries. In the case of income tax-related contingencies, we use a cumulative probability-weighted loss accrual in cases where sustaining a tax position is uncertain. See Note 25—Income Taxes for additional information about income-tax-related contingencies.
Other than with respect to the legal matters described herein, based on currently available information, we believe it is remote that future costs related to known contingent liability exposures will exceed current accruals by an amount that would have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial statements. As we learn new facts concerning contingencies, we reassess our position both with respect to accrued liabilities and other potential exposures. Estimates particularly sensitive to future changes include contingent liabilities recorded for environmental remediation, tax and legal matters. Estimated future environmental remediation costs are subject to change due to such factors as the uncertain magnitude of cleanup costs, the unknown time and extent of such remedial actions that may be required, and the determination of our liability in proportion to that of other potentially responsible parties. Estimated future costs related to tax and legal matters are subject to change as events evolve and as additional information becomes available during the administrative and litigation processes.
Environmental
We are subject to international, federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. When we prepare our consolidated financial statements, we record accruals for environmental liabilities based on management’s best estimates, using information available at the time. We measure estimates and base contingent liabilities on currently available facts, existing technology and presently enacted laws and regulations, taking into account stakeholder and business considerations. When measuring contingent environmental liabilities, we also consider our prior experience in remediation of contaminated sites, other companies’ cleanup experience, and data released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or other organizations. We consider unasserted claims in our determination of environmental liabilities, and we accrue them in the period they are both probable and reasonably estimable.
Although liability for environmental remediation costs is generally joint and several for federal sites and frequently so for state sites, we are usually only one of many companies alleged to have liability at a particular site. Due to such joint and several liabilities, we could be responsible for all cleanup costs related to any site at which we have been designated as a potentially responsible party. We have been successful to date in sharing cleanup costs with other financially sound companies. Many of the sites for which we are potentially responsible are still under investigation by the EPA or the state agencies concerned. Prior to actual cleanup, those potentially responsible normally assess the site conditions, apportion responsibility and determine the appropriate remediation. In some instances, we may have no liability or may attain a settlement of liability. Where it appears that other potentially responsible parties may be financially unable to bear their proportional share, we consider this inability in estimating our potential liability, and we adjust our accruals accordingly. As a result of various acquisitions in the past, we assumed certain environmental obligations. Some of these environmental obligations are mitigated by indemnifications made by others for our benefit, although some of the indemnifications are subject to dollar and time limits.
We are currently participating in environmental assessments and cleanups at numerous federal Superfund and comparable state sites. After an assessment of environmental exposures for cleanup and other costs, we make accruals on an undiscounted basis (except those pertaining to sites acquired in a business combination, which we record on a discounted basis) for planned investigation and remediation activities for sites where it is probable future costs will be incurred and these costs can be reasonably estimated. We have not reduced these accruals for possible insurance recoveries. In the future, we may be involved in additional environmental assessments, cleanups and proceedings. See Note 13—Asset Retirement Obligations and Accrued Environmental Costs, for a summary of our accrued environmental liabilities.
Legal Proceedings
Our legal organization applies its knowledge, experience and professional judgment to the specific characteristics of our cases, employing a litigation management process to manage and monitor the legal proceedings against us. Our process facilitates the early evaluation and quantification of potential exposures in individual cases and enables the tracking of those cases that have been scheduled for trial and/or mediation. Based on professional judgment and experience in using these litigation management tools and available information about current developments in all our cases, our legal organization regularly assesses the adequacy of current accruals and determines if adjustment of existing accruals, or establishment of new accruals, is required.
Propel Fuels Litigation
In late 2017, as part of Phillips 66 Company’s evaluation of various opportunities in the renewable fuels business, Phillips 66 Company engaged with Propel Fuels, Inc. (Propel Fuels), a California company that distributes E85 and other alternative fuels through fueling kiosks. Ultimately, the parties were not able to reach an agreement, and negotiations were terminated in August 2018. On February 17, 2022, Propel Fuels filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda (the Propel Court), alleging that Phillips 66 Company misappropriated trade secrets related to Propel Fuels’ renewable fuels business during and after due diligence. On October 16, 2024, a jury returned a verdict against Phillips 66 Company for $604.9 million in compensatory damages and issued a willfulness finding. Based on the willfulness finding, Propel Fuels asked the Propel Court to award $1.2 billion in exemplary damages, and Phillips 66 Company filed a brief in opposition to that request. A hearing on exemplary damages was held on March 4, 2025, and the Propel Court awarded Propel Fuels $195 million in exemplary damages on July 30, 2025. On August 5, 2025, the Propel Court entered a final judgment against Phillips 66 Company in the amount of $833 million. The judgment includes the $604.9 million jury verdict, $195 million of exemplary damages, and $33.3 million of pre-judgment interest at 7%. Post-judgment interest of 10% is accruing from the date of the final judgment. On August 25, 2025, Phillips 66 Company filed three post-trial motions requesting that the Propel Court render judgment in favor of Phillips 66 Company, grant a new trial, and/or reduce the damages award. On October 20, 2025, the Propel Court denied Phillips 66 Company’s motions. On November 14, 2025, Phillips 66 Company filed its Notice of Appeal, which has been assigned to Division Two of the First District Court of Appeal. Separately, on October 24, 2025, Propel Fuels filed additional motions with the Propel Court seeking attorney’s fees and costs. Phillips 66 Company filed its opposition to that request on January 13, 2026, and once the record on this issue is complete, the Propel Court will rule on these motions. Phillips 66 Company denies any wrongdoing and intends to vigorously defend its position. As a result of the August 2025 final judgment and the October 2024 jury verdict, we recorded $262 million and $604.9 million of expense for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, which are included within the “Selling, general and administrative expenses” line on our consolidated statement of income and reported in the M&S segment. Therefore, our recorded accruals totaling $867 million and $604.9 million as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, are reflected as “Other liabilities and deferred credits” on our consolidated balance sheet. However, it is reasonably possible that the estimate of the loss could change based on the progression of the case, including the appeals process. If information were to become available that would allow us to reasonably estimate a range of potential exposure in an amount higher or lower than the amount already accrued, we would adjust our accrued liabilities accordingly. While Phillips 66 Company believes the jury verdict is not legally or factually supported, there can be no assurances that such defense efforts will be successful. Until the final resolution of this matter, we may be exposed to losses in excess of the amount recorded, and such amounts may have a material adverse effect on our financial position.
Other Contingencies
We have contingent liabilities resulting from throughput agreements with pipeline and processing companies not associated with financing arrangements. Under these agreements, we may be required to provide any such company with additional funds through advances and penalties for fees related to throughput capacity not utilized.
At December 31, 2025, we had performance obligations secured by letters of credit and bank guarantees of $326 million related to various purchase and other commitments incident to the ordinary conduct of business.
Long-Term Throughput Agreements and Take-or-Pay Agreements
We have certain throughput agreements and take-or-pay agreements in support of third-party financing arrangements. The agreements typically provide for crude oil transportation to be used in the ordinary course of our business. At December 31, 2025, the estimated aggregate future payments under these agreements were on average $315 million per year for each year from 2026 through 2030 and $54 million in aggregate for all years after 2030. For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, total payments under these agreements were $316 million, $319 million and $319 million, respectively.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 20, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 21, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 21, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Feb 22, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Feb 18, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Feb 24, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Feb 21, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Feb 22, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Feb 23, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Feb 17, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Feb 19, 2016 | |
About Commitments Disclosures
Commitments and contingencies disclosures catalog a company's off-balance-sheet obligations and legal exposures — purchase commitments, guarantee arrangements, pending litigation, and regulatory proceedings. These items represent potential future cash outflows that may not appear as liabilities on the balance sheet until they become probable and estimable.
Key signals: litigation reserves and disclosed loss ranges quantify management's estimate of legal exposure, but unquantified "reasonably possible" losses often represent the larger risk. Watch for changes in language around pending cases — shifts from "remote" to "reasonably possible" or increases in estimated loss ranges signal deteriorating outcomes. Unconditional purchase obligations and take-or-pay contracts create fixed cost structures that reduce operational flexibility. Guarantee arrangements for subsidiaries or joint ventures can create cascading obligations. Compare the total commitment schedule against projected free cash flow to assess whether the company can meet its obligations without additional financing.