HOUSTON, May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southern Natural Gas Company (SNG), a subsidiary of El Paso Corporation (NYSE: EP), announced today it has placed phase one of its Cypress Pipeline project into service.

The new pipeline, which is an expansion of SNG, provides an incremental 220 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of takeaway capacity from Elba Island, the company's liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility near Savannah, Georgia. From Elba Island, the 167-mile pipeline extends the SNG system into southern Georgia and northern Florida and interconnects with the Florida Gas Transmission system near Jacksonville, Florida. This expansion project provides increased natural gas supplies to growing southeastern markets and allows new diverse incremental natural gas sources to reach utilities, industries, and distribution companies in the Southeast. The project received long-term commitments from BG LNG Services, Progress Energy Florida, and the City of Austell, Georgia prior to construction.

"The Cypress project is a great example of new critical infrastructure expansions that are occurring across the El Paso pipeline system," said Jim Yardley, president of El Paso's Pipeline Group. "We are pleased to deliver this project and its important natural gas supplies on-time and on-budget."

Phases two and three of the Cypress Pipeline Expansion will involve the installation of additional compression between 2008 and 2010. Engineering and procurement activities are currently underway for phase two of the project. During this phase of the project compression facilities will be installed to add an additional 116 MMcf/d of capacity to the pipeline starting in May of 2008. Phase three of the project, which is scheduled to be in-service by 2010, will add an incremental 164 MMcf/d through additional compression.

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 all necessary regulatory approvals and to successfully construct and operate the proposed facilities described in this release; general economic 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, 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
05/01/2007

CONTACT: Investor and Public Relations, Bruce L. Connery, Vice President, +1-713-420-5855, fax, +1-713-420-4417, or Media Relations, Richard Wheatley, Manager, +1-713-420-6828, fax, +1-713-420-4417, both of El Paso Corporation

9438 05/01/2007 14:05 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com