Oct. 29--All three Williams natural gas companies tallied profits in the third quarter that were varying degrees lower than profits generated same time last year, according to earnings reports released Thursday morning.

Parent Williams Cos. Inc. produced $143 million in quarterly net income, down more than half from the $366 million profit generated in 2008's third quarter. The earnings, however, was almost even with the $142 million second-quarter net income.

Williams Partners LP's third-quarter net income was $55.9 million, down slightly from the $60.8 million profit in the same period last year. Company officials blamed lower natural gas liquid margins for the decrease.

Williams Pipeline Partners LP's profits totaled $12.5 million for the three-month period ending Sept. 30. The company generated $13.9 million net income in 2008's third quarter.

Tulsa-based Williams Cos. owns assets in natural gas exploration and production, pipeline, processing and marketing. The parent firm's properties include more than 16,000 miles of pipeline nationwide.

Williams Partners owns natural gas gathering, processing and transportation assets mainly in the Rocky Mountain regions. The partnership also owns natural gas liquids storage and fractionating facilities.

Williams Pipeline Partners owns a 35-percent general partnership interest in Northwest Pipeline GP. The Northwest system includes 12.8 billion cubic feet of working natural gas storage capacity and a

3,900 mile pipeline from New Mexico to the northwest U.S. states.

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