TULSA, Okla. , Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Williams (NYSE: WMB) today provided a preliminary report on its operations in the Gulf of Mexico following the recent hurricanes.

Williams owns and operates a number of natural gas gathering, processing and transportation assets both onshore and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico . All of the company's facilities are covered by standard property and business interruption insurance.

Gas Pipeline Business Segment

Several onshore compressor station facilities on the Transco interstate natural gas pipeline system experienced varying degrees of storm damage, but Transco continues to fulfill its customer commitments. Inspections of Transco's offshore facilities are ongoing.

Midstream Business Segment

The Cameron Meadows natural gas processing plant, located near the communities of Cameron and Johnson Bayou, La. , sustained significant damage from Hurricane Ike and is currently shut down. The facility will require repairs, but the extent and timing are still being assessed.

Some of Williams' other onshore natural gas processing facilities sustained minor damage, but all are now fully operational. The plants are expected to process lower-than-normal volumes until offshore producers' volumes return to normal.

The Williams-operated Discovery offshore gathering system sustained storm damage in approximately 250 feet of water and is not accepting gas from producers while damage assessments and repairs are being made. The Discovery system also includes two onshore processing facilities, neither of which were significantly damaged and are now fully operational. Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ) owns 60 percent of the Discovery system.

Williams' other major offshore gathering and processing assets, including the Canyon Station and Devils Tower platforms, are fully operational. However, they are expected to run at lower-than-normal volumes until offshore producers' volumes return to normal.

For a complete asset-by-asset status report on Williams' operations in the Gulf of Mexico , please visit http://www.williams.com/gulfcoastprofile/operations_news.asp. The status reports are updated regularly.

About Williams (NYSE: WMB)

Williams, through its subsidiaries, finds, produces, gathers, processes and transports natural gas. Williams' operations are concentrated in the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Gulf Coast, and Eastern Seaboard. More information is available at http://www.williams.com. Go to http://www.b2i.us/irpass.asp?BzID=630&to=ea&s=0 to join our e-mail list.

Portions of this document may constitute 'forward-looking statements' as defined by federal law. Although the company 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 company's annual reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     Contact:  Jeff Pounds
               Williams (media relations)
               (918) 573-3332

               Richard George
               Williams (investor relations)
               (918) 573-3679

SOURCE Williams