Company Description
Blueknight Energy Partners was a publicly traded master limited partnership that operated a diversified portfolio of midstream energy assets across the United States. The company specialized in providing terminalling, gathering, and transportation services for liquid asphalt and crude oil products, serving producers, marketers, refiners, and distributors throughout the energy supply chain.
Business Segments and Operations
The partnership organized its operations into four distinct business segments that formed an integrated midstream services platform. The asphalt terminalling services segment represented one of the largest independent asphalt terminal networks in North America, providing critical storage and distribution infrastructure for the road construction and infrastructure maintenance industries. The crude oil terminalling services segment focused on storage facilities in strategic locations including the Cushing Interchange in Oklahoma, one of the most important crude oil trading hubs in the United States. The crude oil pipeline services segment operated gathering and transportation systems that moved crude oil from production areas to storage facilities and refineries. The crude oil trucking and producer field services segment provided specialized oilfield services including transportation, well treatment, and fluid handling.
Infrastructure and Assets
The company developed and maintained an extensive network of midstream infrastructure across multiple states. The asphalt terminalling network included dozens of storage terminals strategically positioned throughout the United States to serve regional asphalt markets. These facilities provided essential storage capacity for liquid asphalt products and residual fuel oils used in road construction, paving, and infrastructure projects. The crude oil storage facilities included significant capacity at the Cushing Interchange, a critical pricing and delivery point for crude oil benchmarks. The pipeline network consisted of hundreds of miles of crude oil gathering and transportation pipelines located primarily in Oklahoma and Texas, connecting production areas with storage terminals and downstream facilities. The trucking and field services fleet included specialized vehicles and equipment for crude oil transportation and oilfield service operations deployed across oil-producing regions.
Midstream Services Portfolio
Blueknight provided a comprehensive range of midstream services designed to support the production, distribution, and marketing of petroleum products. Terminalling services included storage, blending, and distribution of liquid asphalt and crude oil through strategically located facilities. Pipeline services encompassed crude oil gathering from wellheads and production facilities, transportation through pipeline systems, and delivery to storage terminals or downstream customers. Trucking services provided flexible transportation solutions for crude oil and produced fluids when pipeline infrastructure was not available or economical. Oilfield services supported production operations through water delivery, chemical treatment, well maintenance, fluid separation, and waste handling. These integrated services created value by connecting production sources with market destinations and providing essential infrastructure for energy product distribution.
Market Position and Industry Role
The partnership played a significant role in the domestic energy midstream sector, particularly in asphalt terminalling where it operated one of the largest independent networks in the country. The asphalt terminal footprint served the road construction and infrastructure industries, which depend on reliable storage and distribution of liquid asphalt for paving operations. In crude oil midstream services, the company participated in key production basins and maintained presence at strategic trading and distribution points. The Cushing storage facilities positioned the company at the heart of North American crude oil logistics, where physical delivery and pricing for crude oil benchmarks occurs. The integrated service model allowed the partnership to serve diverse customer needs across the petroleum value chain, from wellhead to end user.
Acquisition and Transformation
The partnership underwent significant ownership changes that transformed it from a publicly traded entity to a private subsidiary. Ergon Asphalt and Emulsions, a major asphalt products company, initially acquired a substantial equity stake and the general partner interest. This relationship evolved into full ownership when Ergon completed acquisition of all outstanding common and preferred units, taking the partnership private. The transaction removed the company from public trading and integrated its operations into Ergon's broader asphalt and emulsions business platform. Following the acquisition, the terminal network and midstream assets continue to operate as part of Ergon's infrastructure supporting the asphalt and road construction industries. The integration strengthened Ergon's position as a major participant in asphalt storage, distribution, and logistics across North America.
Historical Development
The partnership was formed as a Delaware limited partnership to own and operate midstream energy assets. The company structure as a master limited partnership allowed it to raise capital through public unit offerings while providing tax advantages typical of partnership entities. Over its history as a public partnership, the company expanded its asset base through acquisitions and organic growth projects, building out terminal networks and pipeline systems. The business evolved through various market cycles in both crude oil and asphalt markets, adapting operations to changing industry conditions. Strategic relationships with larger industry participants influenced the partnership's development, including joint ventures and commercial agreements that shaped asset deployment and service offerings.
Current Status
Blueknight Energy Partners no longer exists as an independent publicly traded entity. The company was delisted from NASDAQ following the completion of the Ergon acquisition. The former partnership's assets and operations now function as part of Ergon's privately held business, continuing to provide asphalt terminalling and related services under new ownership. The terminal network remains operational serving the infrastructure and road construction industries. Investors who held units at the time of the acquisition received consideration for their ownership interests as part of the transaction. The BKEP ticker symbol is no longer active on public markets.
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No SEC filings available for Blueknight Egy.