The Williams Companies, Inc. (Form: 8-K)  

 


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):   July 18, 2008

The Williams Companies, Inc.
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     
Delaware 1-4174 73-0569878
_____________________
(State or other jurisdiction
_____________
(Commission
______________
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
      
One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma   74172
_________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices)
  ___________
(Zip Code)
     
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   918-573-2000

Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[  ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Top of the Form

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

The Williams Companies, Inc. ("Williams") announced today that it expects to receive approximately $71 million as a result of ExxonMobil’s exercise of its contractual option to purchase an interest in a portion of the Piceance Basin reserves Williams acquired in May.

As Williams announced at the time of the acquisition, approximately two-thirds of the acquired acreage is located in an area of mutual interest in which Williams, as operator, participates with a third party – ExxonMobil. By agreement, ExxonMobil had the option to purchase up to a 49-percent interest in those assets that lie within the area of mutual interest.

A copy of the press release announcing ExxonMobil’s exercise of its contractual option to purchase an interest in a portion of the Piceance Basin reserves 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 99.1 Press release dated July 18, 2008, announcing ExxonMobil’s exercise of its contractual option to purchase an interest in a portion of the Piceance Basin reserves.






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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

         
    The Williams Companies, Inc.
          
July 18, 2008   By:   La Fleur C. Browne
       
        Name: La Fleur C. Browne
        Title: Assistant General Counsel and Corporate Secretary


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Exhibit Index


     
Exhibit No.   Description

 
99.1
  Press Release dated July 18, 2008 announcing ExxonMobil’s exercise of its contractual option to purchase an interest in a portion of the Piceance Basin reserves.
EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

         
News Release
      (Williams Logo)
NYSE: WMB
 
 
Date:
  July 17, 2008  

ExxonMobil Exercises Option to Buy Interest in Portion of Reserves
Williams Acquired in May

TULSA, Okla. – Williams (NYSE: WMB) announced today that it expects to receive approximately $71 million as a result of ExxonMobil’s exercise of its contractual option to purchase an interest in a portion of the Piceance Basin reserves Williams acquired in May.

With the effect of this transaction, Williams’ recently acquired assets now represent 1.3 trillion cubic feet equivalent (Tcfe) of probable and possible reserves on 10-acre spacing.  That brings Williams’ total probable and possible reserves in the Piceance Basin to 5.8 Tcfe, which includes the company’s year-end 2007 estimate.  Williams also has 2.8 Tcfe of proved reserves in the Piceance Basin, based on year-end 2007 estimates.

On May 22, Williams announced completion of a $285 million acquisition that represented more than 1.9 Tcfe of estimated probable and possible reserves on 10-acre spacing. The acquired properties, which also include related gathering-and-treating facilities and producing properties, are located in the Ryan Gulch area of the Piceance Basin Highlands in Rio Blanco County.

As the company announced at the time of the acquisition, approximately two-thirds of the acquired acreage is located in an area of mutual interest in which Williams, as operator, participates with a third party – ExxonMobil.   By agreement, ExxonMobil had the option to purchase up to a 49-percent interest in those assets that lie within the area of mutual interest.

By choosing to exercise their purchase option, ExxonMobil is acquiring, on the same terms and conditions as Williams’ purchase, approximately 7,000 of the 24,000 net acres Williams acquired in the May transaction.   

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.

     
Contact:
  Jeff Pounds
 
  Williams (media relations)
 
  (918) 573-3332
 
  Richard George
 
  Williams (investor relations)
 
  (918) 573-3679

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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.