HOUSTON, TX, Aug 09, 2010 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --

El Paso Corporation (NYSE: EP) announced today that its subsidiary, El Paso Midstream Group, Inc., is holding a 30-day, non-binding open season to solicit expressions of interest concerning the transportation of ethane on its proposed Marcellus Ethane Pipeline System (MEPS). The open season began August 9 and will close September 10. Subject to receipt of sufficient customer interest in the non-binding open season, MEPS plans to pursue with interested parties negotiation of terms to be contained in transportation agreements and, thereafter, conduct a binding open season in October 2010.

The proposed MEPS would be designed to transport up to 60,000 barrels per day of ethane from points of origin at the fractionation plants in the ethane-rich Marcellus Shale production region to destination interconnect points with third-party ethane pipelines and storage facilities in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana area. MEPS would be comprised of a combination of new pipeline and existing pipeline segments expected to be acquired from Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company and converted to ethane service.

The project has a targeted in-service date of April 1, 2013. For more information about El Paso Midstream Group, visit www.elpaso.com/midstream.

El Paso Corporation provides natural gas and related energy products in a safe, efficient, and dependable manner. The company owns North America's largest interstate natural gas pipeline system and one of North America's largest independent natural gas producers. For more information, visit www.elpaso.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain forward-looking statements and projections. 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, our ability to obtain sufficient commitments from shippers to support the pipeline, our ability to obtain and maintain in force and effect all necessary federal, state and local regulatory approvals on a timely basis, including receipt by Tennessee Gas Pipeline of abandonment authorizations from the FERC with regard to the natural gas pipeline to be converted to ethane service; our ability to successfully construct and operate the proposed facilities described in this release on time and within budget; our ability to obtain the necessary funding to develop and construct the pipeline; general economic conditions in geographic regions or markets served by the proposed pipeline, or where the pipeline is 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.

Contacts:
Investor-Media Relations
Bruce Connery
Vice President
Office: (713) 420-5855

Media Relations
Richard Wheatley
Manager
Office: (713) 420-6828

SOURCE: El Paso Corporation