HOUSTON, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- El Paso Corporation (NYSE: EP) announced today that participants in a recent open season for the company's Continental Connector project submitted requests for more than 3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of capacity. Importantly, requests were balanced between participants representing both supply and market regions, and involved transportation services on pipeline segments from Rockies production areas upstream of the Cheyenne Hub as well as Mid-Continent and East Texas basins to markets into New England, the upper Midwest, and Gulf Coast states. In addition, several participants asked to submit late responses, which the company plans to accommodate pursuant to open season guidelines.

Based on the results of the non-binding open season, El Paso has refined the scope of the project, and will immediately begin specific discussions with potential customers toward binding commitments. As a result of suggestions received from open season participants, the company also plans to announce an open house in early December to bring potential participants from all segments of the marketplace together to further detail the project's scope and opportunities.

Continental Connector will directly connect El Paso's western pipelines, which offer extensive access to growing natural gas supplies in the Rockies and Mid-Continent regions, with El Paso's southern and eastern pipelines, which offer access to markets from Florida to New England as well as the Midwest. Continental Connector's market reach will be further enhanced by interconnects with other pipelines, giving it the ability to serve the entire Eastern United States. The project will also provide access to production in North and East Texas. Recently, the company announced an agreement with OGE Energy Corporation that will allow El Paso to reduce construction required, provide a significant anchor capacity commitment to the project, and result in an in-service target date of winter 2007-2008.

El Paso Corporation provides natural gas and related energy products in a safe, efficient, and dependable manner. The company owns North America's largest natural gas pipeline system and one of North America's largest independent natural gas producers. For more information, visit http://www.elpaso.com . You can learn more about the Continental Connector project at http://www.elpaso.com/business/continentalconnector.shtm .

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes forward-looking statements and projections, made in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The company has made every reasonable effort to ensure that the information and assumptions on which these statements and projections are based are current, reasonable, and complete. However, a variety of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this release, including, without limitation, the receipt of the necessary capacity commitments for this project; the receipt of necessary governmental approvals for this project; our ability to successfully construct and operate the proposed facilities described in this release; general economic conditions in geographic regions or markets served by El Paso Corporation and its affiliates, or where operations of the company and its affiliates are located, and other factors described in the company's (and its affiliates') Securities and Exchange Commission filings. While the company makes these statements and projections in good faith, neither the company nor its management can guarantee that anticipated future results will be achieved. Reference must be made to those filings for additional important factors that may affect actual results. The company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by the company, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE El Paso Corporation
11/30/2005

CONTACT: investor and public relations, Bruce L. Connery, Vice President, 1-713-420-5855, or fax, 1-713-420-4417, or media relations, Richard Wheatley, Manager, 1-713-420-6828, or fax, 1-713-420-6341, both of El Paso Corporation

0207 11/30/2005 14:00 EST http://www.prnewswire.com