HOUSTON, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- El Paso Corporation (NYSE: EP) announced that Elba Express Company, L.L.C., (EEC), a subsidiary of Southern Natural Gas Company (SNG), has filed its application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to construct the Elba Express Pipeline; and Southern LNG, a subsidiary of SNG has filed its application to expand the Elba Island liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal near Savannah, GA. The projects will be constructed in phases with the in-service date of the first phase of each expected to be in 2010 and the second phase of each expected to be in 2012. The total expected capital cost for all phases of both projects is approximately $930 million.

The proposed pipeline will transport natural gas from the company's Elba Island liquefied natural gas terminal near Savannah, Georgia, to markets in Georgia and South Carolina, and, by way of its interconnects, Elba Express will also supply natural gas to markets throughout the southeastern and eastern United States. The approximately 190-mile, 42-inch and 36-inch diameter pipeline will have a total capacity of approximately 1.2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) with an initial in-service date of mid-2010. The LNG terminal expansion project will add 8.4 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of LNG storage, which will more than double Elba's capacity to 15.7 Bcf. The expansion will also add .9 Bcf/d of send-out capacity, raising Elba's capacity to 2.1 Bcf/d. Additional information on the project can be found by visiting the project Web site at http://www.elba3.com .

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, our ability to obtain necessary governmental approvals for proposed LNG and pipeline projects and our ability to successfully construct and operate such projects; changes in commodity prices for oil, natural gas, and power; general economic and weather 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; the uncertainties associated with governmental regulation; competition; 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
10/12/2006

CONTACT: investor and public relations, Bruce L. Connery, Vice President, +1-713-420-5855, or fax, +1-713-420-4417, or media relations, Bill Baerg, Manager, +1-713-420-2906, or fax, +1-713-420-4417, both of El Paso Corporation

7144 10/12/2006 09:25 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com