Plains All American Pipeline to acquire crude oil rail terminals from U.S. development group

Thursday, Dec 06, 2012

Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. (NYSE: PAA), announced today that it has agreed to acquire four operating crude oil rail terminals, one terminal under development and various contractual arrangements from U.S. Development Group (USD) for approximately $500 million. The transaction received early termination of the required waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and is expected to close before the end of this year.

“These assets represent a very attractive addition to our existing North American rail activities, substantially improving our scale, scope, and flexibility”

The assets to be acquired include three crude oil rail loading terminals located in the Eagle Ford, Bakken and Niobrara producing regions with an aggregate daily loading capacity of approximately 85,000 barrels per day, a rail unloading terminal at St. James, Louisiana with capacity of approximately 140,000 barrels per day and a project to construct a crude oil unloading terminal near Bakersfield, California.

“These assets represent a very attractive addition to our existing North American rail activities, substantially improving our scale, scope, and flexibility,” said Greg L. Armstrong, Chairman and CEO of PAA. “Given recent and projected increases in North American crude oil production and volumetric and quality imbalances expected to occur in certain regions over the next several years, we believe that strategically located rail loading and unloading assets will continue to play an important role in the transportation of crude oil in North America.”

The Partnership stated that following the acquisition and taking into account projects currently under development, PAA’s North American crude oil rail business platform will include five loading terminals and three unloading terminals. Crude oil loading capacity is expected to total approximately 250,000 barrels per day, with five facilities located in or near key producing areas extending from the US Rockies to South Texas.

Unloading capacity is expected to total 335,000 barrels per day with terminals located on the East Coast, Gulf Coast and West Coast. The West Coast project will connect with PAA’s West Coast pipeline and terminal network and will have access to refinery markets in both Northern and Southern California.

PAA also owns an extensive network of rail facilities for natural gas liquids (NGLs) that extends throughout the U.S. and Canada and includes 18 active loading and/or unloading terminals.

Source: Business Wire

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