Northwest Pipeline GP Completes Sundance Trail Expansion Project

TULSA, Okla., Nov. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Williams Partners L.P.  (NYSE: WPZ) announced today that Northwest Pipeline GP has received authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to place its 30-inch diameter natural gas mainline loop known as the Sundance Trail Expansion into service.  

The Sundance Trail project includes approximately 15.5 miles of pipeline and related facilities that will provide 150,000 dekatherms per day of firm transportation capacity from the Greasewood and Meeker/White River hubs in Rio Blanco County, Colo. to the Opal Hub area in Lincoln County, Wyo.  As part of the project, Northwest replaced and added compression at its Vernal Compressor Station in Uintah County, Utah.  The project had a total cost of approximately $56 million.

"Completion of the Sundance Trail Expansion allows us to meet demand for transportation capacity to move gas from the prolific Piceance Basin to the Opal Hub," said Phil Wright, president of Williams' gas pipeline business.  "At the Opal Hub, gas producers benefit from significant supply options due to the accessibility of six interstate pipelines, including Northwest.  We're pleased to have the pipeline in service, and we appreciate the efforts of the FERC and other federal and state agencies in reviewing and approving the project in a timely manner."    

Northwest filed an application with the FERC for a certificate for the project in May 2009 and received FERC approval in December 2009.  Construction on the project began in April 2010.

Northwest's mainline is connected to the Piceance Basin at the Greasewood Hub through its Piceance Lateral and the Meeker/White River hubs through Northwest's Colorado Hub Connection pipeline and related facilities.

Williams (NYSE: WMB) owns 77 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.

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 77 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 email list.

Portions of this document may constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined by federal law. Although the partnership believes any such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that actual outcomes will not be materially different. Any such statements are made in reliance on the "safe harbor" protections provided under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995. Additional information about issues that could lead to material changes in performance is contained in the partnership's annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE Williams Partners L.P.