Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On October 10, 2008, Williams Partners L.P. (the "Partnership") announced the
second update of the Discovery system following the hurricanes in the Gulf of
Mexico as well as the expected effect on its financial results. In addition to
providing an operational update in the announcement, the Partnership announced
that its previous third-quarter 2008 guidance for the expected financial effect
of the hurricane-related damages and downtime is unchanged. The Partnership
announced that it continues to expect a reduction in third-quarter 2008
consolidated segment profit of $6 million to $10 million, based on the
Partnership's 60-percent equity earnings in Discovery. The Partnership announced
that it does not expect Discovery's resulting third-quarter 2008 equity earnings
to be materially different from its second-quarter 2008 equity earnings of
$8.6 million. For fourth-quarter 2008, the Partnership expects a reduction in
consolidated segment profit of $10 million to $20 million, also based on the
60-percent equity earnings in Discovery. As a result, the Partnership expects
Discovery's equity earnings for fourth-quarter 2008 to range from a loss of
$10 million to breakeven. The Partnership's estimates above for the expected
effect on its results reflect its portion of Discovery's property insurance
deductible, but do not reflect any potential future recoveries under the
Partnership's business interruption insurance policy. The Partnership also
announced that it does not does not expect any impact on its third or fourth
quarter 2008 cash distributions to unitholders as a result of the hurricanes.
The Partnership owns 60 percent of the Discovery system, which includes an
offshore natural gas gathering system, as well as the Larose natural gas
processing plant and Paradis fractionation facility. Both processing facilities
are onshore south of New Orleans.
A copy of the press release announcing the second update of the Discovery system
following the hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico as well as the expected effect on
the Partnership's financial results is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1. The
information furnished is not deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is not subject to the liabilities
of that section and is not deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a) None
(b) None
(c) None
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit Number Description
Exhibit 99.1 Press release dated October 10, 2008, announcing an update of the
Discovery system following the hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico as well
as the expected effect on financial results.
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