Williams Partners L.P. Announces Binding Open Season to Transport Marcellus Natural Gas Supply

TULSA, Okla., March 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A unit of Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ) announced today that it is initiating a binding open season from March 4 to March 26, 2010, for an expansion of its Transco pipeline to provide incremental firm natural gas transportation capacity to transport growing Pennsylvania Marcellus supply to New York and New Jersey markets.

The Northeast Supply Link expansion project is designed to provide 420,000 dekatherms per day of firm service on Williams Partners' Transco natural gas pipeline from interconnections accessing Marcellus production along its Leidy Line in Pennsylvania to its Station 210 pooling point and existing New York City delivery points. Transco has executed a precedent agreement with an anchor shipper for 200,000 dekatherms per day of the capacity and the remaining 220,000 dekatherms per day will be offered to others in the open season.

Williams (NYSE: WMB) owns 84 percent of Williams Partners, including the general-partner interest.  Most of Williams' interstate gas pipeline and midstream assets are held through its ownership interest in Williams Partners.

"This project is the latest in a long line of expansions of our Leidy Line to provide customers access to abundant supplies closer to our Northeast markets," said Phil Wright, president of Williams' natural gas pipeline business. "And it is yet another example of Williams' expanding role in bringing our nation and our customers clean-burning natural gas from a region right here at home that is now able to employ growing numbers of American workers.  We are committed to expanding our Transco system to ensure that customers can take full advantage of this major emerging supply source."

Subject to approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the first phase of the project is designed to be placed in-service in November 2012, providing 120,000 dekatherms per day of firm service.  The second phase would follow in November 2013, providing the full project capacity.

The level of market interest will determine the cost and pipeline facilities required for the expansion. For customer inquiries, contact Gary Duvall at (713) 215-2589.

The Transco pipeline is a 10,000-mile pipeline system which transports natural gas to markets throughout the northeastern and southeastern United States. The current system capacity is approximately 8.6 billion cubic feet per day.

About Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ)

Williams Partners L.P. is a leading diversified master limited partnership focused on natural gas transportation; gathering, treating, and processing; storage; natural gas liquid (NGL) fractionation; and oil transportation.  The partnership owns interests in three major interstate natural gas pipelines that, combined, deliver 12 percent of the natural gas consumed in the United States. The partnership's gathering and processing assets include large-scale operations in the U.S. Rocky Mountains and both onshore and offshore along the Gulf of Mexico.  Williams (NYSE: WMB) owns approximately 84 percent of Williams Partners, including the general-partner interest. More information is available at www.williamslp.com. Go to http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=1296&to=ea&s=0 or http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=630&to=ea&s=0 to join our e-mail list.

This press release may include "forward-looking statements" as defined by federal law.  All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Partnership expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Partnership based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Partnership, which may cause our actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements.  Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the Partnership's annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Williams Partners L.P.