Exhibit 99.A
 
 RYDER SCOTT m.PANY fAXfI))OSI~9 C~OlEUIA (OHSUlTAHTS 1\00 lOUISIANn SUITE 3600 1l00000N, rEXf\S
7700.2 ·5218 TEtEPHOW (113) 651 ·9191 January 28. 2009 El Paso Production Company EI Paso Tower 1DO
1 Louisiana Houston, TX 77002 Gentlemen: At your request, we have conducted a reserves audit of the
estimates of the remaining proved reserves attributable to certain properties of EI Paso Production
Company (EI Paso), as of December 31. 2008. as prepared by its engineering and geological staff and
based on Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) guidelines. The properties that we audited are
comprised of 6,930 reserve determinations and are located in the states of Alabama, Arkansas.
Colorado. Louisiana. Mississippi. North Dakota, New Mexico. Oklahoma. Texas, Utah and Wyoming. and
in the federal walers offshore louisiana and Texas. The international properties are located
offshore Brazil. These estimated reserves and future income amounts do not include EI Pasos equity
interest in Four Star Oil & Gas. In our opinion. the overall proved reserves for the audited
properties as estimated by EI Paso are, in the aggregate, reasonable within the established audit
tolerance guidelines of 10 percent as sel forth in the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and
Auditing of Oit and Gas Reserves Information promulgated by the Society of Petroleum Engineers. The
net reserves attributable to the properties that we audited account for 72.5 percent of the total
net remaining liquid hydrocarbon reserves and 80.5 percent of the total net remaining gas reserves.
The properties that we audited represent 80 percent of the total proved discounted future net
income based on the unescaJaled pricing policy of the SEC as taken from reserve and income
projections prepared by EI Paso as of December 31, 2006. The estimated reserves presented in this
report are related to hydrocarbon prices. EI Paso has informed us that in the preparation of their
reserve and income projections, as of December 31, 2008. they used December 2008 hydrocarbon prices
as required by SEC guidelines; however, actual future prices may vary significantly from December
2008. Therefore, volumes of reserves actually recovered and the amounts of income aclually received
may differ significantly from the estimated quantities presented in this report. The net remaining
reserves as estimated by El Paso attributable to EI Pasos interest in properties that we audited
and the reserves of properties that we did not audit are summarized as follows: SEC CASE Estimated
Net Remaining ReselVes Attributable to Certain Properties of EI Paso Production Company As of
December 31, 2008 Proved Developed Total Producing Non-Producing Undeveloped Proved Net RescJ1ves
of Properties AudittJd by Ryder Scott OillCondensale -Barrels 12.420.639 3.202,145 3.319,180
18.941,964 Plant Products · Barrels 2,514,152 786.285 418,050 3,718.487 Gas -MMCF 1,089.704 174.932
461,670 1.726.306 Total Gas Equivalents -MMCFE · 1.179,313 198.863 484.093 1,862,26.  1200. 530 .
IIlli fl.I(NIJE. !O.W. CALGMV, fllMRTA TPP ]58 T~L(403l262 ·2799 fRX(403)21Sl!·2790 621 17TH SlRW.
5UlTt: 1550 IXtNffi, (0l0M0Q 80293-1501 TR(lO) 623 ·9147 fRX(30)1623-042SS




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B Paso Production Company January 28, 2009 Page 2 Proved Net Reserves of Propetf/es Not
Audited by Ryder Scott Oil/Condensate -Barrels Plant Products Barrels Gas-MMCF Developed Producing
Non-1,696,631 211,161 225,452 Producing 3,095,062 107,154 85,211 Undeveloped 3,357,154 122,514
106,717 Total Proved 8,148,847 440,829 417,380 Total Gas Equivalents MMCFE6 236,896 104,424 127,596
468,918 Total Net Reserves OiUCondensate  Barrels Plant Products Barrels Gas-MMCF 14,117,270
2,725,313 1,315,156 8,297,207 893,439 200,143 6,876,334 540,564 568,387 27,090,811 4,159,316
2,143,686 Total Gas Equivalents MMCFE6 1,416,211 303,287 611,689 2,331,187 1 bblliquid -6 MCF gas
equivatanl. Liquid hydrocarbons are expressed in standard 42 gallon barrels. All gas volumes are
expressed in millions of cubic feet (MMCF) at the official temperature and pressure bases of the
areas in which the gas reserves are located. Reserves Included in This Report In our opinion, the
proved reserves presented in this report comply with SEC definitions and guidelines. as outlined
below. SEC Regulation S-X Rule 4-10 paragraph (a) defines proved reserves as follows: Proved all
and gas reserves. Proved oil and gas rese1V8S are the estimated quantities ofcrude oil, natural
gas, and natural gas liquids which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable
certainty to be recoverable in future years from known resetvOirs under existing economic and
operating conditions. 1.8., prices and costs as of the date the estimate is mad8. Prices include
consideration of changes in existing prices provided only by contractual anangements, but not on
escalations based upon future conditions. (il ReseNoirs are considered proved if economic
producibi/ity is supported by either actual production orconclusiveformationtest.
TheBIUBofBreservoirconsidered provedinducfes: (A) that portion delineated by driJHng and defined by
gasoil and/or oJ]·weter contacts, if any; and (8) the immediately adjoining portions not yet
drilled, but which can be reasonably jUdged as economically productive on the basis of eveilable
geological and engineering data. In the absence of information on fluid contacts, the towest known
structural occurrence of hydrocarbonscontrolsthe lowerprovedtimit ofthe reservoir. (uJ Reserves
which can be produced economicaRy through application of improved recovery techniques (such as
fluid injection) a19lncluded in the proved classification when successful testing by B pilot
project, or the operation of an Installed program in the reservoir. provides support for the
engineering analysis on which the project orprogram was based. (iii) Est/mates ofproved reseNes do
not Include the following: RYDER SCOTT (~ PETROlEUM (ONSULlANTS




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EI Paso Production Company January 28. 2oo9 Page 3 (A) oil that may become available (rom
known reS8/VOirs but is classmed separately as -indicated additional f8S8N8S; (B) crode oil.
natural gas, and natural gas IlqukJs, the recovery ofwhich is subject to reasonable doubt because
o(uncertainty as to geology, reservoir characteristics, or economic factors; (C) erode oil, natural
gas, and natural gas liquids, that may occur in undn71ed prospects; and (D) crud& oil, natural gas,
and natural gas liquids, that may be recovered from oil shales, coal, giJsonite and other such
sources. Proved developed 0;1 and gas reselVes. Proved developed oil and 9as feS6NeS ate reS8tves
that can be expected to be recovered through existing wells with existing equipment and operating
methods. Additionsl 011 and gas expected to be obletned through the eppllcatlon of nuid injection
or other improved recovery techniques for supplementing the natural fofC&s and mechanisms ofprimary
racovery should be included as ·proved developed reserves · only after testing by a pilot project or
after the operation ofan installed program has confinned through production response that incteased
recovery will be achieved. Proved undeveloped reselVes. Proved undeveloped oil and gas I8sef\l8S am
resef\l8s that are expected to be recovered from new wells on uneJrilled acreage. or from existing
wells whem a relatively mejor expenditure is required for recompletion. Reserves on undrilled
acreage shall be limited to those dnlIing units offsetting productive units that are reasonably
certam o(production when driJled. Proved reserves for other undn11ed units can be claimed only
where il can be demonstrated with certainty that there is continuity o( production from the
existing productive fonnation. Under no cirwmstances shOUld estimates for proved undeveloped
fBS8rveS be attributable to any acreage for which an application of fluid injection or other
improved recovery technique Is contemplated, unless such techniques have been proved effective by
actual tests in the area and in the same ressNOir. certain Staff Accounting Bulletins published
subsequent to the promulgation of Regulation S-X have dealt with matters relating to the
application of financial accounting and disclosure rules for oil and gas producing activities. In
particular, the following interpretations extracted from Staff Accounting Bulletins set forth the
Commission staffs view on specific questions pertaining to proved oil and gas reserves. Economic
producibility of estimated proved fBsetveS can be supported to the satisfaction of the Office of
Engineering if geological and engineering data damonstrate iWth reasonable certainty that those
reserves can be recovered In future yesrs under existing economic and operating conditions. The
relative importance of Ihe many pieces of geological and engineering data which should be evaluated
When classifying reserves cannot be identified in advance. In certain instances, proved reserves
may be assigned to reservoirs on the basis of a combination of electrical and other type logs and
C018 analyses which indicate the reservoirs ar8 analogous to similar reservoirs in the same field
which are producing or have demonstrated the ability to produce on a fOmfation test. (extracted
from SAEJ.35) In detennining Whether ·proved undeveloped reserves · encompass aCl8age on which
fluid injection (or other improved mcovety technique) is contemplated. is it appropriate to
distinguish between (I) fluid injection used for pf8ssure maintenance during the early life of a
field and (il) fluid injection used to effect secondary fBCOVSry when a field Is in the late siages
of depletion? ... The Offtee of Engineering believes that the distinction /dentified in the above
question may be appropriate in a few limited circumstances, such as in the case of certain fields
in the North Sea. The staff will review estimates
 of proved f8serves attributable to fluid
injection in the light of the strength of the evidence presented by the teglstrant in support ofa
contention that enhanced recovery wilt be achieved. (extracted (rom SAEJ.3S) Companies should
report reSefYBS of natural gas liquids which are net to their leasehold interest, i.e., that
portion recovered in a processing plant and allocated to the leasehold interest. It may be
appropriate in the case of natural gas liquids not clearly attributable to leasehold interests
ownership to R\IOEA SCOTT Co,wANY PETROLEUM CONSULmNfS




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EI Paso Production Company January 28. 2009 Page 4 follow instruction (b) of Item 2(b}(3} of
Regulation S~K and repolf such tesefVes separately and describe the nature ofthe ownership.
(extracted from SA8-35) The staff believes that since cos/bed methane gas can be recovered from
coal in its natural and original JocaUon, it should be included in proved reS8NBS, provided that it
complies in all other respects with the definition of proved oil and gas reseN8S as specified in
Rule 410(a)(2} including the requirement that methane production be economical at cunent prices,
costs, (net of the tax cmdit) and existing operating condilions. (extracted from SAS-8S) Statements
in Staff Accounting Bulletins are not rules or Interpretations of lhe Commission nor are they
published as bearing the Commissions official approval; lhey represent interpretations and
practices followed by the Division of Corporation Finance and the OffICe of the Chief Accountant in
administering the disdosure requirements of the Federal seaJrities laws. Because of the direct
relationship between volumes of proved undeveloped reserves and development plans, we include In
the proved undeveloped category only reserves assigned to Undeveloped locations that we have been
assured will definitely be drilled and reserves assigned to the undeveloped portions of secondary
or tertiary projects wtich we have been assured will definitely be developed. Audit Procedure and
Opinion As prescribed by the Soc:lety of PetroJeum Engineers in Paragraph 2.2(1) of the Standards
Pertaining to the Estimating and AUditing of Oil and Gas Reserves lnfonnation a reserves audit is
defined as -the process of reviewing certain of the pertinent facts klterpreted and assumptions
made that have resulted in an estimate of reseNes prepared by others and the rendering ofan opinion
about (1) the appropriateness of the methodologies employed, (2) the adequacy and quaHty of the
data relied upon, (3) the depth and thoroughness of the reserves estimation process. (4) lhe
c1asslficatton of reserves appropriate to the reJevant definitions used, and (5) the reasonableness
of the estimated reserve quantities. In performing our audit. we have relied upon data ftKnished by
EI Paso wilh respect to property interests owned, production and well tests from examined wells,
historical costs of operation and development. product prices, geological structural and isopach
maps, well logs, core analyses, and pressure measurements. These data were accepted as authentic
and sufftcient for determining the reserves unless, during the course of our examination, a matter
of question came to our attention in which case the data were not accepted until an questions were
satisfactorily resolved. Our audit Included such tests and procedures as we considered necessary
under the circumstances to render the conclusions set forth herein. In our opinion, EI Pasos
estimates of future reserves for the audited properties were prepared in accordance with generaUy
accepted petroleum engineering and evaluation principles for the estimation of future reserves as
set forth in the Standards Pertaining to the Estimating and Auditing of Oil and Gas Reserves
Information. and we found no bias in the utilization and analysis of data in estimates for these
properties. In general, we were in reasonable agreement with EI Pasos estimates of remaining
proved reserves for the properties which we audited; however, in certain cases there was more than
an acceptable variance in EI Pasos estimates and our estimates due to a difference in
interpretation of data or due to our having access to data which were not avaaable to EI Paso when
its reserve estimates were prepared. In these cases, E1 Paso revised its estimates to conform to
our estimates. As a consequence, it is our opinion that the data presented herein for the
properties that we ludited fairty
reftect the estimated net reserves owned by EI Paso. Certain
technical personnel of EI Paso are responsible for the
preparation of reserve estimates on new properties and for the preparation of revised estimates,
when necessary, on old properties. These persomel assembled the necessary data and maintaIned the
data and wotkpapers in an orderly manner.. We consulted with these technical personnel and had
access to their wotkpapers and supporting data in the course of our audit. RYDER SCOTT COMPANV
PETf\OI.EUM CONSULTANTS




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EI Paso Production Company January 28, 2009 Page 5 Other Properties Other properties, as used
herein, are those properties of EI Paso which we did not audit. The reserves attributable to the
other properties account for 27.5 percent of the lotal net remaining liquid hydrocarbon reserves
and 19.5 percent of the lotal net remaining gas reserves. The same technical personnel of EI Paso
prepared the reserve estimates for the properties that we audited and for the other properties.
Reserves Estimates The reserves for the properties that we audited were estimated by performance
methods or the volumetric method. The reserves estimates by the performance method utilized
extrapolations of various historical data in those cases where such data were definitive. Reserves
were estimated by the volumetric method in those cases where there were inadequate historical data
to establish a definitive trend or where Ihe use of production performance data as a basis for the
reserves estimates was considered 10 be inappropriate and the volumetric data were adequate for a
reasonable estimate. The reserves presented herein, as estimated by EI Paso and audited by us, are
estimates only and should not be construed as being exact quanlilies. Moreover, estimates of
reserves may increase or decrease as a result of future operations. General In general, the reserve
estimates for the properties that we audited are based on data available through December, 2008.
Gas imbalances, if any, were not laken into account in the gas reserve estimates aUdited. Neither
we nor any of our employees have any interest in the subject properties. and neither Ihe employment
10 do this work nor the compensation is contingent on our estimates of reserves for the properties
which were audited. This report was prepared for the exclusive use of EI Paso Production Company.
The data and work papers used in the preparation of this report are available for examination by
authorized parties in our offices. Please contact us if we can be of further service. Very truly
yours. ~4A22L Jeffrey D. Wilson. P.E. Senior Vice President JDW/sm , AYDER SCOTT <QMPANY
PTAOl.l:UM (O~SUliANTS