EXHIBIT 99.A


NEWS                                                              (EL PASO LOGO)
For Immediate Release

EL PASO CORPORATION TO DELAY REPORTING OF FOURTH QUARTER 2003 EARNINGS

HOUSTON, TEXAS, MARCH 10, 2004--El Paso Corporation (NYSE:EP) today announced
that it will delay the release of its fourth quarter 2003 earnings, which is
currently scheduled for March 11, 2004, pending the completion of a review of
the impact of its recently announced reserve revision.

On February 17, 2004, the company announced a negative revision of its proved
natural gas and oil reserves of approximately 1.8 trillion cubic feet
equivalent. The total amount of the revision will not change. However, since the
company's announcement, El Paso has been reviewing whether portions of the
revision should be applied to prior years, which would cause a restatement of
prior years' financial statements and related supplemental oil and gas reserve
disclosures. Based on El Paso's internal technical reviews as well as the
independent review of the Audit Committee of the board of directors, the company
believes that it is likely that a restatement of the financial statements for El
Paso Corporation, El Paso CGP Company, and El Paso Production Holding Company
will be required. Consequently, investors should not rely on previously filed
reports for these registrants until further notice from the company.

The completion of El Paso's internal review and review by the Audit Committee
will also cause a delay in the submission of the Form 10-K filings for the
above-mentioned registrants and may impact the timely filing of other related
registrants. El Paso has requested waivers from the lenders participating in its
revolving credit facility and other bank facilities that address a restatement
or delay in its Form 10-K filings. The company currently expects to receive
those waivers.

In El Paso's previous disclosures on the impact of these reserve revisions, the
company stated that the pre-tax ceiling test impact on El Paso Corporation at
December 31, 2003 would be approximately $1 billion if the impact of the
revisions were all reflected in the fourth quarter of 2003. This charge was
based on the ceiling test calculation utilizing the year-end 2003 price for
natural gas of approximately $6.00 per million British thermal units (MMBtu),
the impact of the company's current hedge position, and the company's current
investment in its production business. At that time, the company stated that if



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natural gas prices had been $1 per MMBtu lower at year-end 2003, it would have
resulted in an additional pre-tax charge of approximately $1.5 billion.

The company's internal review and the independent review of the Audit Committee
are ongoing. These reviews will include whether a restatement is required and,
if required, which periods are impacted by the restatement and the impact on the
reported financials in any period or in total. If upon completion of these
reviews it is determined that a restatement is required, the restatement of
previous periods would likely result in non-cash ceiling test charges in certain
of those periods and higher than reported depletion rates in some periods and
potential adjustments in gains or losses in prior sales of oil and gas
properties.

El Paso Corporation's purpose is to provide natural gas and related energy
products in a safe, efficient, dependable manner. The company owns North
America's largest natural gas pipeline system and one of North America's largest
independent natural gas producers. For more information, visit www.elpaso.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This release includes forward-looking statements and projections, made in
reliance on the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. The company has made every reasonable effort to ensure that
the information and assumptions on which these statements and projections are
based are current, reasonable, and complete. However, a variety of factors could
cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated
results or other expectations expressed in this release, including, without
limitation, the ability to implement and achieve our objectives in the
long-range plan; the timing of the completion of the internal review of the
reserve revisions, and the extent and time periods involved in any potential
restatement of prior years' financial results; potential impact of any
restatement of financial results on our access to capital (including borrowings
under credit arrangements); changes in reserves estimates based upon internal
and third party reserve analyses; the uncertainties associated with the outcome
of governmental investigations; the outcome of litigation including shareholder
derivative and class actions related to the reserve revision and potential
restatement; and other factors described in the company's (and its affiliates')
Securities and Exchange Commission filings. While the company makes these
statements and projections in good faith, neither the company nor its management
can guarantee that anticipated future results will be achieved. Reference must
be made to those filings for additional important factors that may affect actual
results. The company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements
made by the company, whether as a result of new information, future events, or
otherwise.

CONTACTS
Investor and Public Relations
Bruce L. Connery, Vice President
Office:  (713) 420-5855
Fax:     (713) 420-4417

Media Relations
Kim Wallace, Manager
Office:  (713) 420-6330
Fax:     (713) 420-6341



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