American Midstream Partners LP is acquiring Blackwater Midstream Holdings LLC, a developer and operator of terminal storage facilities, from an affiliate of ArcLight Capital Partners LLC for $60 million. “The strategic acquisition of Blackwater Midstream provides an attractive platform for American Midstream in a growing segment of the midstream industry that is fee-based and not directly correlated to commodity prices,” said American Midstream CEO Steve Bergstrom. The acquisition includes Blackwater’s three operating terminal sites in Westwego, LA; Brunswick, GA; and Salisbury, MD. The sites are multimodal, with access to deepwater dock, barge, rail and truck transportation. The deal also includes a brownfield development opportunity in Harvey, LA, near Blackwater’s Westwego terminal. The three operating terminals have 1.3 million bbl of storage capacity and store chemical, agricultural and petroleum liquid products. The deal is the first drop-down from American Midstream sponsor ArcLight since ArcLight acquired a controlling interest in American Midstream’s general partner in April.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will begin rolling out a series of new rules that deal with well pad construction, brine transport and wastewater treatment, among other things, in the next month or so. The proposals are part of an effort to update and strengthen regulations for oil and gas drilling in the state. They come as part of provisions passed in Senate Bill 315, a sweeping piece of energy legislation passed last year; the state’s biennial budget and another bill passed by lawmakers in early 2012. New spill prevention rules will require well pads to be inspected by state engineers after construction, and brine hauling trucks could be tracked electronically if a state legislative committee approves the proposals. Rules for the permitting of wastewater impoundments are also nearing completion. Up to 20 proposed rules are being considered, according to ODNR officials.