A throughput agreement, typically employed in connection with an oil or petroleum product pipeline financing, requires that, during a specified period of time, the shippers (e.g., oil companies or gas producers) will ship through the pipeline enough product to provide the pipeline with sufficient cash revenues to pay all of its operating expenses and meet all of its debt service obligations. The throughput requirement is normally supplemented by a cash deficiency agreement, also called a "keep well" agreement. It obligates the shipping companies to advance funds to the pipeline if, for any reason, the pipeline does not have sufficient cash to discharge its obligations as they come due. Such cash payments are usually credited as advance payments for transportation services under the throughput agreement.