Williams Partners’ Transco Pipeline Seeks Additional Commitments for Project Connecting Shale Natural Gas to Atlantic Seaboard and Southeastern U.S. Markets

TULSA, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Williams Partners L.P. (NYSE: WPZ) is seeking binding commitments for the remaining capacity on Atlantic Access, a proposed expansion of its Transco interstate pipeline. The project would significantly expand direct access for Marcellus and Utica Shale natural gas to additional, growing U.S. markets by late 2014. The partnership has a binding precedent agreement from a shipper for half of the initial capacity.

“The Atlantic Access project would serve as a vital connection, creating a direct link from the burgeoning Appalachian supply basin to diverse, growing natural gas markets and storage facilities from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast”

Transco is holding an open season from Feb. 3 to April 2, 2012, to obtain binding shipper commitments for Atlantic Access. The project would connect natural gas supplies originating in western West Virginia and Pennsylvania to valuable markets in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Gulf Coast regions. The project is part of the partnership’s strategy to provide clean, abundant and domestic natural gas and reliable energy infrastructure to growing markets in North America.

Williams (NYSE: WMB) owns 74 percent of Williams Partners, including the general-partner interest.

“The Atlantic Access project would serve as a vital connection, creating a direct link from the burgeoning Appalachian supply basin to diverse, growing natural gas markets and storage facilities from the Gulf Coast to the Northeast,” said Randy Barnard, president of Williams’ interstate gas pipeline business. “This access to abundant, long-lived supplies of shale gas should serve as an economic boost to these markets.”

The proposed Atlantic Access project is anticipated to transport up to 1.8 million dekatherms (Dth) of natural gas per day. The company has already entered a binding precedent agreement with an anchor shipper for 900,000 Dth/day of capacity in the project.

The proposed project facilities include approximately 350 miles of new pipeline extending from Marshall County, W.V., and Butler County, Pa., to Williams’ Transco compressor station 195 located in York County, Pa. Williams’ Transco interstate pipeline system stretches from the prolific Gulf Coast up the East Coast to serve major markets in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

Customers subscribing to capacity on the project can choose from three separate paths originating from Marshall County, W.V., Butler County, Pa., or Bergen County, N.J. Each of the three paths would transport gas southward on the existing Transco system to all points on the mainline and terminating in Transco rate zone 3 in Beauregard Parish, La.

The capacity, scope and cost of the Atlantic Access project will be shaped by the results of the open season. The proposed project will be subject to approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory commission and other agencies.

For customer inquiries, contact Gary Duvall at [phone].

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 14 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 74 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.