Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., a subsidiary of El Paso Corp., announced a natural gas pipeline expansion project that will extend its reach into the ultra-deep Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Louisiana Deepwater Link will provide an additional 850,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of capacity from the tailgate of GulfTerra Field Services LLC's recently announced Independence Trail Pipeline project.

GulfTerra Field Services LLC is an affiliate of Enterprise Products Partners LP. Atwater Valley Producer Group, represented by Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Corp., Devon Louisiana Corp., Spinnaker Exploration Co., and Dominion Exploration & Production Inc., has signed binding agreements with Tennessee providing a long-term supply commitment from recently announced discoveries in the Atwater Valley, Mississippi Canyon, Desoto Canyon, and Lloyd Ridge concession areas.

Louisiana Deepwater Link will provide Tennessee's expanding markets in the Gulf Coast, Southeast, and Northeast regions favorable access to one of the largest and fastest growing domestic supply basins in the Gulf of Mexico. As part of the contracts, Atwater Valley Producer Group will enter into firm transportation agreements with Tennessee for up to 500,000 Dth/d of their production.

Tennessee will lay two pipelines from its existing Grand Isle block 43 system, located on the southeast coastline of Louisiana, to a new junction platform to be built in West Delta block 68 and connecting to GulfTerra Field Services LLC's recently announced 141-mi Independence Trail Pipeline. The Independence Trail Pipeline will connect Tennessee to a major platform production hub in Mississippi Canyon block 920.

The project facilities will be placed in service October 2006.

11-11-04