Basic Energy Services Inc., Midland, Texas, (NYSE: BAS) has acquired substantially all of the operating assets of Texas-based Azurite Services Co. Inc., Azurite Leasing Co. LLC and Freestone Disposal LP (collectively Azurite) for approximately $60 million in cash.

            Azurite’s assets consist of 98 fluid-handling trucks, 632 frac tanks and six disposal facilities that serve market areas in East Texas, including the Haynesville and Barnett shales. The assets will be added to Basic Energy’s existing fleet of 169 trucks and disposal facilities.

            Basic Energy president and chief executive Ken Huseman says, “The Azurite companies are a prime example of the type of businesses we focus on acquiring. Azurite’s employee base is first-rate, its asset base is fairly new and the company enjoys strong relationships with its customers. In addition, Azurite’s service area is complementary to ours, allowing us to further strengthen our position in the active East Texas markets, which include the fast-growing Haynesville shale area where we are already positioned as one of the leading fluid-services providers. SJP