energy transfer is a texas based company that began in 1995 as a small intrastate natural gas pipeline operator and is now one of the largest and most diversified investment grade master limited partnerships in the united states. growing from roughly 200 miles of natural gas pipelines in 2002 to approximately 71,000 miles of natural gas, natural gas liquids (ngls), refined products, and crude oil pipelines. today, there are 4 publicly traded partnerships in the energy transfer family. energy transfer partners, l.p (nyse:etp) is a master limited partnership which owns and operates one of the largest and most diversified portfolios of energy assets in the united states. energy transfer equity, l.p (nyse:ete) is a master limited partnership which owns the general partner and 100% of the incentive distribution rights (idrs) of energy transfer partners, l.p. sunoco logistics partners l.p (nyse:sxl), is a master limited partnership that owns and operates a logistics business consisting of a