Attached files
file | filename |
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8-K - FORM 8-K - PLAINS ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE LP | h74310e8vk.htm |
EX-4.1 - EX-4.1 - PLAINS ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE LP | h74310exv4w1.htm |
EX-1.1 - EX-1.1 - PLAINS ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE LP | h74310exv1w1.htm |

Exhibit 5.1
July 13, 2010
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.
333 Clay Street, Suite 1600
Houston, Texas 77002
333 Clay Street, Suite 1600
Houston, Texas 77002
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
(the Partnership), with respect to certain legal matters in connection with the registration by
the Partnership and PAA Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the
Partnership (PAA Finance, and together with the Partnership, the Issuers) under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), of the offer and sale by the Issuers of
$400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.95% Senior Notes due 2015 (the Notes), to be issued
and sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated July 7, 2010, by and among the Issuers, the
Subsidiary Guarantors named therein and the Underwriters named therein (the Underwriting
Agreement).
The Notes are being offered and sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated July 7, 2010
(the Prospectus Supplement) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission)
pursuant to Rule 424(b) on July 8, 2010, to the prospectus dated October 14, 2009, (such
prospectus, as amended and supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus), included
in and forming part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-162475) (the
Registration Statement). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings
given such terms in the Underwriting Agreement.
The Notes are to be issued as securities pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of
September 25, 2002 (the Base Indenture), by and among the Issuers, and Wachovia Bank, National
Association, as trustee, as amended and supplemented by the Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture
thereto, to be dated as of July 14, 2010 (the Supplemental Indenture), by and among the Issuers,
the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee to
Wachovia Bank, National Association (the Base Indenture, as so amended by the Supplemental
Indenture, the Indenture), and will be guaranteed on an unsecured basis by each of the Subsidiary
Guarantors.
In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have examined and relied upon (i) the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus; (ii) the Third Amended and
Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of June 27, 2001, as
amended; (iii) the organizational certificates and the limited partnership or limited liability
company agreements (as the case may be) of PAA GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(General Partner), which is the general partner of the Partnership, of Plains AAP, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership (Plains AAP), which owns a 100% membership interest in the General
Partner, and of Plains All American GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which is the
general partner of Plains AAP; (iv) the organizational certificates, bylaws, certificate of
incorporation and the limited partnership or limited liability company agreements
(as the case may be) of PAA Finance and of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors; (v) the
Underwriting Agreement, a copy of which is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K prior to the closing of the sale of the Notes; (vi) the
Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture and (vii) such other certificates, statutes and other
instruments and documents as we consider appropriate for purposes of the opinions hereafter
expressed. In addition, we reviewed such questions of law as we considered appropriate.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the assumptions, limitations and qualifications
set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Notes will, when they have been duly executed,
authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and duly
purchased and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, constitute valid
and legally binding obligations of the Issuers, enforceable against the Issuers in accordance with
their terms.
The opinions expressed herein are qualified in the following respects:
A. As to any facts material to the opinion contained herein, we have made no independent
investigation of such facts and have relied, to the extent that we deem such reliance proper, upon
certificates of public officials and officers or other representatives of the Partnership.
B. We have assumed that (i) all information contained in all documents submitted to us for
review is accurate and complete, (ii) each such document submitted to us as an original is
authentic and each such document submitted to us as a copy conforms to an authentic original of
such document, (iii) all signatures on each such document examined by us are genuine, (iv) each
certificate from governmental officials reviewed by us is accurate, complete and authentic, and all
official public records are accurate and complete and (v) each natural person signing any document
reviewed by us had the legal capacity to do so and each person signing in a representative capacity
any document reviewed by us had authority to sign in such capacity.
C. This opinion is limited in all respects to the laws of the State of New York. We do not
express any opinions as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.
D. The opinion is qualified to the extent that the enforceability of any document, instrument
or security may be limited by or subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer or
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors
rights generally, and general equitable or public policy principles.
E. We express no opinions concerning (i) the validity or enforceability of any provisions
contained in the Indenture that purport to waive or not give effect to rights to notices, defenses,
subrogation or other rights or benefits that cannot be effectively waived under applicable law or
(ii) the enforceability of indemnification provisions to the extent they purport to relate to
liabilities resulting from or based upon negligence or any violation of federal or state securities
or blue sky laws.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion of counsel as Exhibit 5.1 to the Current
Report on Form 8-K of the Partnership dated on or about the date hereof, to the incorporation by
reference of this opinion of counsel into the Registration Statement and to the reference to
our Firm under the heading Legal Matters in the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus. In
giving such consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission
issued thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.