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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Mg11M+/ETMHSHcbFpAP8shk8eqjEXi1Eyvqt/d+BA7d9gZ78oT4fuJQTeimkDIGE
 XFA5camyWVE/GkzWL4ETYQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001180362-04-000001.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001180362-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105152023
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001180362-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EL PASO CORP/DE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001066107
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION [4922]
		IRS NUMBER:				760568816
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 LOUISIANA ST, SUITE 2955A
		STREET 2:		EL PASO BLDG
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7134202600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1001 LOUISIANA ST
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2955A
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EL PASO ENERGY CORP/DE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980716

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WHITMIRE JOHN L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180362

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14365
		FILM NUMBER:		04504375

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GLOBALSANTAFE CORP
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77079
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2814968000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GLOBALSANTAFE CORP
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77079
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001180362d20040105f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001066107</issuerCik><issuerName>EL PASO CORP/DE</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>EP</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001180362</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>WHITMIRE JOHN L</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>WHITMIRE &amp; ASSOCIATES</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>2420 AVENUE H</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>BAY CITY</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>77414</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivati
veTable></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Deferred Common Stk Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5485</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5485</value></underl
yingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>21611</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The stock units were allocated to the reporting person's account at a market price of $8.205.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Each stock unit represents one share of common stock and is held in the Benefits Protection Trust, a grantor trust, of which the reporting person is a  beneficiary, and of which the shares are subject to the general creditors of the Company.  The stock units are payable in common stock following the date the reporting person ceases to be a director.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>David L Siddall (POA)</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSign
ature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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