HOUSTON, TEXAS, March 6, 2001-As a result of the overwhelming response received in its recent bidding process for available capacity, El Paso Natural Gas Company, a subsidiary of El Paso Corporation (NYSE:EPG), announced an open season for possible expansion of its existing pipeline system. The open season, which began March 2, 2001 and will continue through March 23, 2001, will allow parties to express non-binding interest in firm natural gas transportation service to support an expansion of El Paso's existing mainline transmission system. It also will allow current shippers to express their non-binding interest in relinquishing some or all of their existing capacity that might be used to serve proposed new loads.

The El Paso Natural Gas pipeline system has receipt points in the San Juan, Permian, and Anadarko producing basins and delivery points in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and at the California border. As part of the open season, El Paso will consider requests for firm transportation service originating in any receipt basin and delivered to any location on its system.

"El Paso Natural Gas is conducting this highly flexible open season to determine customer support for meeting increased gas demands in western markets," said Patricia A. Shelton, president of El Paso Natural Gas Company. "There are possibilities for expansion of some of our existing facilities that could help El Paso provide additional gas supply to Western markets. By offering this open season and the possibility of a resulting expansion of the El Paso pipeline, the company is continuing to provide solutions to the current energy problems in California."

Upon receipt of the expressions of interest obtained through this open season, El Paso Natural Gas will begin negotiating binding firm transportation agreements with the responding parties and begin to identify appropriate facilities to possibly expand its system. Upon execution of firm transportation service agreements, the company will finalize the optimum facility design and then will file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the necessary authorization for an expansion. Any shipper with questions should contact their Transportation Marketing Representative or Mr. Jerry W. Strange, Director of Transportation Marketing at (915) 496-3139.

El Paso Corporation, the largest and most broadly based natural gas company in the world, spans the energy value chain from wellhead to electron. With an enterprise value in excess of $50 billion, El Paso is a leader in every phase of the natural gas industry. The company owns and operates a significant portion of the North American natural gas delivery grid, operates the fastest growing, most sophisticated energy merchant group, and is the nation's third largest natural gas producer. El Paso, a leader in risk management techniques, is focused on maximizing shareholder value, transforming existing markets, and speeding the development of new markets. Visit El Paso at www.elpaso.com.

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. While the company makes these statements and projections in good faith, neither the company nor its management can guarantee that the anticipated future results will be achieved. Reference should be made to the company's (and its affiliates') Securities and Exchange Commission filings for additional important factors that may affect actual results.