HOUSTON, Dec. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- El Paso Corporation (NYSE: EP) is providing a year-end report on the effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita on its natural gas pipeline businesses. Onshore and offshore Louisiana, El Paso has made significant progress in restoring facilities to service on the Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP), Southern Natural Gas (SNG), and ANR Pipeline (ANR) systems. The company is continuing to conduct detailed assessments on facilities that were affected by the hurricanes. While company operations are improving, third-party production and processing availability continues to affect throughput.

The company continues to make progress on restoring its operations to pre- hurricane level flows.

                                             Impact as of       Impact as of
                     Flows pre-hurricane   October 31, 2005  December 16, 2005
                            (MMcf/d)           (MMcf/d)          (MMcf/d)

     ANR                      1,300               300               200
     SNG                      1,220               645               170
     TGP                      2,450             1,200               400
     Total Flow               4,970             2,145               770

Neither ANR nor SNG is constrained by processing. However, TGP is still affected by a lack of third-party processing capabilities but has pursued numerous options in order to optimize flows. Those include installing a new interconnect that provides access to processing for 120 MMcf/d at the Lowry processing plant at Lake Arthur. TGP has repaired most of its main lines in the Gulf of Mexico and continues to repair lateral lines, electronic equipment, and metering in various areas. Facility recovery will extend into 2006. TGP is flowing on the East and West Legs as well as the header of the Bluewater system. Certain damaged lateral lines and metering equipment on the East Leg will be replaced in 2006. TGP is repairing two turbine compressors at its Port Sulphur Compressor Station in addition to other repairs. Plans call for the facilities to be back in operation by mid-January.

SNG pipeline repairs continue offshore at various locations, including installing a by-pass around SNG's damaged Main Pass 298 junction platform. The by-pass is scheduled to be complete before year-end, and the platform will be removed.

Ongoing system repairs on the ANR system should allow ANR to restore throughput capability to 100 percent of pre-hurricane levels by mid-February.

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 .

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 ability to repair any damage to pipeline and production facilities and to restore transportation services and oil and gas production deliveries; the costs of effectuating such repairs and replacement facilities; the receipt of any related necessary governmental approvals 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

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
Web site: http://www.elpaso.com
(EP)