Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                   TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORPORATION

                   $325,000,000 8.875% Notes due July 15, 2012

                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                  June 28, 2002

To the Initial Purchasers
  listed on Schedule I hereto

c/o Salomon Smith Barney Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, NY, 10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
(the "COMPANY"), proposes to issue and sell to the several initial purchasers
listed on Schedule I hereto (the "INITIAL PURCHASERS", individually the "INITIAL
PURCHASER"), $325,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 8.875% Notes due
2012 (the "Securities"), to be issued pursuant to the provisions of an Indenture
to be dated as of July 3, 2002 (the "INDENTURE"), between the Company and
Citibank, N.A. (the "TRUSTEE"). The Securities will be entitled to the benefits
of a registration rights agreement to be dated July 3, 2002 between the Company
and the Initial Purchasers (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT").

         The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the Initial Purchasers
to issue and sell all of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers, on the terms
and conditions set forth herein.

         The Securities will be offered and sold to the Initial Purchasers,
without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"SECURITIES ACT"), in reliance upon an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act.

         In connection with the sale of the Securities, the Company has prepared
and delivered to the Initial Purchasers a preliminary confidential offering
memorandum, dated June 28, 2002 (together with all documents incorporated by
reference therein, the "PRELIMINARY OFFERING MEMORANDUM") and has prepared

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and will deliver to the Initial Purchasers on the date hereof or as soon as
practicable thereafter, copies of a final confidential memorandum, dated June
28, 2002 (together with all amendments and supplements thereto, and together
with all documents incorporated by reference therein, the "FINAL OFFERING
MEMORANDUM"), relating to the Securities. The Preliminary Offering Memorandum
and the Final Offering Memorandum are sometimes collectively referred to herein
as the "Offering Memorandum." All references in this Agreement to the Offering
Memorandum include the documents incorporated by reference therein. The Company
hereby confirms that it has authorized the use of the Offering Memorandum in
connection with the offer and sale of the Securities.

         The Company understands that the Initial Purchasers propose to make
offerings ("EXEMPT RESALES") of the Securities only on the terms and in the
manner set forth in the Offering Memorandum and Section 3 hereof, as soon as the
Initial Purchasers deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and
delivered only (i) to persons in the United States whom the Initial Purchasers
reasonably believe to be "qualified institutional buyers" ("QIBS") as defined in
Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to
time ("RULE 144A"), or, if any such person is buying for one or more
institutional accounts for which such person is acting as fiduciary or agent,
only when such person has represented to the Initial Purchasers that each such
account is a QIB to whom notice has been given that such sale or delivery is
being made in reliance on Rule 144A or (ii) in offshore transactions to non-U.S.
persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act ("REGULATION S").
S
         1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Initial Purchasers that as of
the date hereof and at the Closing Date (as defined herein):

                  (a) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly
         existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
         of Delaware, has the corporate power and authority to own its property
         and to conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandum and
         is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each
         jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or
         leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent
         that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not
         have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of
         operations or business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
         whole (a "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT");

                  (b) Each of the subsidiaries of the Company (the
         "SUBSIDIARIES" or "SUBSIDIARY") has been duly organized or validly
         formed, is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
         jurisdiction of its

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         formation or incorporation, has the power (corporate or other) and
         authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described
         in the Offering Memorandum and is duly qualified to do business and is
         in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its
         business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
         qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified
         or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (c) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has all consents,
         authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates and permits of and
         from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all federal,
         state, local and other governmental authorities, and all courts or
         other tribunals (collectively the "LICENSES") necessary to own, hold,
         or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and to
         carry on its business as presently conducted, except where the failure
         to possess such Licenses could not reasonably be expected to have a
         Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of its
         Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to
         revocation or modification of any such Licenses;

                  (d) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth
         in the Final Offering Memorandum and all of the issued shares of
         capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly
         issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and conform to the
         description thereof in the Final Offering Memorandum; and all of the
         issued shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary (in the case of each
         Subsidiary which is a corporation) have been duly authorized and
         validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned
         directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens,
         encumbrances, equities or claims.

                  (e) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) is in
         compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and
         local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health
         and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes,
         pollutants or contaminants ("ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"), (ii) has received
         all permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under
         applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its business and (iii) is in
         compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or
         approval, except, with respect to (i), (ii) and (iii), as may be
         disclosed in the Offering Memorandum and except where such
         noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required
         permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the
         terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not,
         singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (f) There has been no storage, disposal, generation,
         manufacture, refinement, transportation, handling or treatment of toxic
         wastes, medical

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         wastes, hazardous wastes or hazardous substances by the Company or any
         of its Subsidiaries (or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their
         predecessors in interest) at, upon or from any of the property now or
         previously owned or leased by the Company or its Subsidiaries in
         violation of any applicable law, ordinance, rule, regulation, order,
         judgment, decree or permit or which would require remedial action under
         any applicable law, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment,
         decree or permit, except as may be disclosed in the Offering Memorandum
         and except for any violation or remedial action which would not have,
         or could not be reasonably likely to have, singularly or in the
         aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; there has been no material spill,
         discharge, leak, emission, injection, escape, dumping or release of any
         kind onto such property or into the environment surrounding such
         property of any toxic wastes, medical wastes, solid wastes, hazardous
         wastes or hazardous substances due to or caused by the Company or any
         of its Subsidiaries or with respect to which the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries have knowledge, except for any such spill, discharge,
         leak, emission, injection, escape, dumping or release which would not
         have or would not be reasonably likely to have, singularly or in the
         aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and the terms "hazardous wastes",
         "toxic wastes", "hazardous substances" and "medical wastes" shall have
         the meanings specified in any applicable local, state, federal and
         foreign laws or regulations with respect to environmental protection;

                  (g) The Company has filed all material tax returns which are
         required to be filed by it and has paid all taxes due pursuant to such
         returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company, except
         where the same may be contested in good faith by appropriate
         proceedings, and where the Company has maintained in accordance with
         generally accepted accounting principles appropriate reserves for the
         accrual of any of the same. The charges, accruals and reserves on the
         books of the Company in respect of taxes or other governmental charges
         are, in the opinion of the Company, adequate;

                  (h) The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity
         "controlled" by an "investment company" as such terms are defined in
         the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

                  (i) Assuming due authorization, execution and authentication
         by the Trustee, the Indenture, when duly executed and delivered by the
         Company, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company,
         enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as
         (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency
         (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent
         transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting
         creditors' rights

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         generally and (ii) rights of acceleration, if any, enforceability and
         the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable
         principles of general applicability (regardless of whether considered
         in a proceeding in equity or at law). The Indenture conforms in all
         material respects to the description thereof in the Offering
         Memorandum;

                  (j) The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company
         and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions
         of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Initial
         Purchasers in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be
         entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and will be valid and binding
         obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms,
         except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
         insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to
         fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
         affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) rights of acceleration,
         if any, enforceability and the availability of equitable remedies may
         be limited by equitable principles of general applicability (regardless
         of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);

                  (k) The Securities constitute unsecured and unsubordinated
         obligations of the Company and rank pari passu without any preference
         among themselves; the Securities rank pari passu with all other
         unsecured and unsubordinated debt obligations of the Company other than
         any unsubordinated debt obligations which rank junior to the
         Securities;

                  (l) Each of this Agreement and the Registration Rights
         Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly
         executed and delivered by the Company, and assuming due authorization,
         execution and delivery by the representatives on behalf of the Initial
         Purchasers, will be a valid and binding obligation of the Company,
         enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as
         enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of
         creditors' rights generally or is subject to general principles of
         equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or
         at law) and except as rights to indemnification and contribution
         thereunder may be limited by applicable law;

                  (m) The execution and delivery by the Company of this
         Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, the issuance and
         delivery of the Securities, the consummation by the Company of the
         transactions contemplated herein and the compliance by the Company with
         the terms of this Agreement, the Indenture, the Securities and the
         Registration Rights Agreement have been duly authorized by all
         necessary

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         corporate action on the part of the Company and do not and will not
         result in any violation of the charter or by-laws of the Company, and
         do not and will not conflict with, or result in a breach of any of the
         terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture,
         mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or
         instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is
         bound (except for such conflicts, breaches or defaults that could not
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), nor does or
         will such action result in any violation of any statute or any order,
         rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having
         jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties; and no consent,
         approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or
         with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the
         issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company to the Initial
         Purchasers as contemplated by this Agreement;

                  (n) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in
         violation of its charter or by-laws or in default in the performance or
         observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
         contained in any contracts, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
         agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a
         party, except for any such violation or default that would not
         singularly or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect;

                  (o) The Company has filed all documents with the Securities
         and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") that it is required to file
         under the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
         amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), as applicable, and the rules and
         regulations of the Commission thereunder, and such documents conformed
         in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or
         the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the
         Commission thereunder, and at the time so filed none of such documents
         contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein not misleading; and each document so filed or to be
         filed and incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum or any
         further amendment or supplement thereto, complied or will comply when
         so filed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities
         Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations
         of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement
         of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
         stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
         misleading;

                  (p) The Offering Memorandum (as amended or supplemented if the
         Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto)
         does not as of the time hereof and will not, as of the Closing Date,

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         contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
         material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
         light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
         provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not be
         made to the Initial Purchasers with regard to any statements or
         omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
         furnished in writing to the Company by, or on behalf of, the Initial
         Purchasers;

                  (q) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
         sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements
         included or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum, any
         loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or
         other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor
         dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, which would
         result in any Material Adverse Effect, or any development involving a
         prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general
         affairs, management, financial position, stockholders' equity or
         results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
         whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Offering
         Memorandum, and, since the respective dates as of which information is
         given in the Offering Memorandum or since the date of the Offering
         Memorandum, there has not been any change in the capital stock or
         long-term debt of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any
         material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective
         material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs,
         management, financial position, stockholder's equity or results of
         operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
         otherwise than as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum;

                  (r) The consolidated financial statements filed with or as
         part of any document filed with the Commission present fairly in all
         material respects the financial position, results of operations and
         changes in financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries at
         the dates and for the periods indicated, all in conformity with
         generally accepted accounting principles; and the Company has no
         material contingent obligation which is not disclosed in such financial
         statements or in the Offering Memorandum;

                  (s) Other than as set forth or incorporated by reference in
         the Offering Memorandum, there is no action, suit or proceeding before
         or by any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic
         or foreign, now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
         against or affecting the Company that could reasonably be expected to
         result in any Material Adverse Effect, or that could reasonably be
         expected to adversely affect the consummation of the transactions
         contemplated in this Agreement;

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                  (t) Assuming the accuracy of the representations, warranties
         and agreements of the Initial Purchasers in Section 2 hereof,
         compliance by the Initial Purchasers with the offering and transfer
         procedures and restrictions described in the Offering Memorandum, the
         accuracy of the representations and warranties deemed to be made in the
         Offering Memorandum by purchasers to whom the Initial Purchasers
         initially resell the Securities and that purchasers to whom the Initial
         Purchasers initially resell the Securities receive a copy of the
         Offering Memorandum prior to such sale, it is not necessary in
         connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities to the
         Initial Purchasers or in connection with the initial resale of the
         Securities by the Initial Purchasers, in each case, in the manner
         contemplated by this Agreement and the Offering Memorandum to register
         the Securities under the Securities Act or to qualify the Indenture
         under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;

                  (u) The Company, its affiliates and any person acting on its
         or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers in connection with
         the transactions contemplated hereby, about which the Company makes no
         representation) have not, directly or indirectly:

                           (i) engaged in any directed selling efforts (within
                  the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act) with
                  respect to the Securities;

                           (ii) offered or sold the Securities in the United
                  States by any form of general solicitation or general
                  advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D under the
                  Securities Act) or in any manner involving a public offering
                  within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act; or

                           (iii) sold, solicited any offers to buy or offered to
                  sell or otherwise negotiated in respect of any security in a
                  manner that would require registration of the Securities under
                  the Securities Act in accordance with the theory of
                  "integration" referred to in Regulation D under the Securities
                  Act.

                  (v) Assuming the accuracy of the Initial Purchasers'
         representations and warranties and the compliance by the Initial
         Purchasers with their agreements made herein, the Securities offered
         and sold in reliance on Regulation S have been and will be offered and
         sold only in offshore transactions, and the sale of the Securities
         pursuant to Regulation S is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the
         registration provisions of the Securities Act;

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                  (w) The Securities satisfy the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(3)
         under the Securities Act;

                  (x) The Final Offering Memorandum will contain the information
         regarding the Company specified in, and which satisfies the
         requirements of, Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act; and

                  (y) Ernst & Young LLP, who have audited certain consolidated
         financial statements of the Company, are independent public accountants
         as required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
         Commission thereunder.

                  The Company (i) acknowledges that the Initial Purchasers and,
         for purposes of the opinions to be delivered to each Initial Purchaser
         pursuant hereto, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Initial
         Purchasers will rely upon the accuracy and truth of the foregoing
         representations and (ii) hereby consents to such reliance.

         2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE INITIAL PURCHASERS. Each
Initial Purchaser, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants to,
and agrees with the Company that: each Initial Purchaser (i) is a QIB with such
knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as are necessary to
evaluate the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities; (ii) is not
acquiring the Securities with a view to any distribution thereof that would
violate the Securities Act or the securities or blue sky laws of any state or
country, (iii) has received all information it considers necessary to evaluate
the merits and risks of an investment in the Securities, (iv) has not and will
not solicit offers for, or offer to sell, the Securities by means of any form of
general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c)
under the Securities Act, or in any manner involving a public offering within
the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act; and (v) has and will solicit
offers for the Securities only from, and will offer, sell or deliver the
Securities, as part of their initial offering, only (A) to persons in the United
States whom the Initial Purchasers reasonably believes to be QIBs or, if any
such person is buying for one or more institutional accounts for which such
person is acting as fiduciary or agent, only when such person has represented to
the Initial Purchasers that each such account is a QIB to whom notice has been
given that such sale or delivery is being made in reliance on Rule 144A or (B)
in offshore transactions to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S.

         Each Initial Purchaser, severally and not jointly, hereby represents
and warrants to, and agrees with the Company that:

                  (i) such Initial Purchaser and its affiliates or any person
         acting on its or their behalf have not engaged or will not engage in
         any directed selling efforts within the meaning of Regulation S with
         respect to the Securities;

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                  (ii) the Securities offered and sold by such Initial Purchaser
         pursuant hereto in reliance on Regulation S have been and will be
         offered and sold only in offshore transactions;

                  (iii) the sale of the Securities offered and sold by such
         Initial Purchaser pursuant hereto in reliance on Regulation S is not
         part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration provisions of the
         Securities Act;

                  (iv) such Initial Purchaser has not offered or sold and will
         not offer or sell the Securities in the United States or to, or for the
         benefit or account of, a U.S. Person (other than a distributor), in
         each case, as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act (a) as part
         of its distribution at any time and (b) otherwise until 40 days after
         the later of the commencement of the offering of the Securities
         pursuant hereto and the Closing Date, other than in accordance with
         Regulation S of the Securities Act or another exemption from the
         registration requirements of the Securities Act;

                  (v) it has (A) not offered or sold and, prior to the date six
         months after the Closing Date, will not offer or sell any Securities to
         persons in the United Kingdom except to persons whose ordinary
         activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of
         investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their
         businesses or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and
         will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom within
         the meaning of the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995, (B)
         only communicated any invitation or inducement to engage in investment
         activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services
         and Markets Act 2000 (the "FSMA")) received by it in connection with
         the issue or sale of any Securities in circumstances in which Section
         21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Company, and (C) complied and
         will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to
         anything done by it in relation to the Securities in, from or otherwise
         involving the United Kingdom;

                  (vi) at or prior to confirmation of a sale of Securities by
         such Initial Purchaser pursuant hereto in reliance on Regulation S to
         any distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee
         or other remuneration during the 40-day restricted period referred to
         in Rule 903(b)(2) under the Securities Act, it will send to such
         distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or
         other remuneration a confirmation or notice to substantially the
         following effect:

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         "The Securities covered hereby have not been registered under the U.S.
         Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not
         be offered and sold within the United States or to, or for the account
         or benefit of, U.S. persons (i) as part of your distribution at any
         time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the
         commencement of the Offering and the Closing Date, except in either
         case in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act or Rule
         144A in transactions that are exempt from the registration requirements
         of the Securities Act, and in connection with any subsequent sale by
         you of the Securities covered hereby in reliance on Regulation S during
         the period referred to above to any distributor, dealer or person
         receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration, you must
         deliver a notice to substantially the foregoing effect. Terms used
         above have the meanings assigned to them in Regulation S."

         The Initial Purchasers (i) acknowledge that the Company and, for
purposes of the opinions to be delivered to each Initial Purchaser pursuant
hereto, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Initial Purchasers will rely
upon the accuracy and truth of the foregoing representations and (ii) hereby
consent to such reliance.

         3. AGREEMENTS TO SELL AND PURCHASE. The Company hereby agrees to sell
and each Initial Purchaser, upon the basis of the representations and warranties
herein contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective principal
amounts of Securities set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite its name at 96.70%
of their principal amount (the "PURCHASE PRICE") plus accrued interest, if any,
from July 3, 2002 to the date of payment and delivery.

         4. PAYMENT AND DELIVERY. Payment for the Securities shall be made by
wire or other immediately available funds to the order of the Company to a bank
account designated by the Company at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on July 3, 2002,
or at such other time on the same or such other date, as shall be agreed by the
parties and designated in writing by the Initial Purchasers. The time and date
of such payment are herein referred to as the "CLOSING DATE."

         Payment for the Securities shall be made against delivery to the
Initial Purchasers of the one or more global notes representing the Securities
(collectively, the "GLOBAL NOTE") registered in the name of Cede & Co. (the
"GLOBAL HOLDER") with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer
of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers duly paid. Such Global Note shall be
made available to the Initial Purchasers for checking at least twenty four hours
prior to the Closing Date, at the offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell, New York,
New York.

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         5. CONDITIONS TO THE INITIAL PURCHASERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations
of the Initial Purchasers are subject to the following conditions:

                  (a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement
         and prior to the Closing Date:

                           (i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading,
                  nor shall any notice have been received of (A) any intended or
                  potential downgrading or (B) any review or possible change
                  that does not indicate the direction of a possible change, in
                  the rating accorded any of the Company's securities by any
                  "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as
                  such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the
                  Act; and

                           (ii) there shall not have occurred any material
                  adverse change, or any development which could reasonably be
                  expected to result in a prospective material adverse change,
                  in the financial condition, or in the earnings, business or
                  operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
                  whole, from that set forth in the Final Offering Memorandum.

                  (b) The Initial Purchasers shall have received on the Closing
         Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive
         officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in clauses (a)(i) and
         (ii) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of
         the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the
         Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the
         agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be
         performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date.

                           The officer signing and delivering such certificate
         may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings
         threatened.

                  (c) The Initial Purchasers shall have received on the Closing
         Date an opinion of William G. von Glahn, Esq., Senior Vice President
         and General Counsel of The Williams Companies, Inc., dated the Closing
         Date, with such exceptions and qualifications as shall be agreed by the
         Initial Purchasers, to the effect set forth in Exhibit A.

                  The opinion of William G. von Glahn, Esq. described in Exhibit
         A shall be rendered to the Initial Purchasers at the request of the
         Company and shall so state therein.

                  (d) The Initial Purchasers shall have received on the Closing
         Date an opinion from Andrews & Kurth LLP, special counsel for the

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         Company, dated the Closing Date, with such exceptions and
         qualifications as shall be agreed by the Initial Purchasers, to the
         effect set forth in Exhibit B.

                  (e) The Initial Purchasers shall have received on the Closing
         Date an opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell, counsel for the Initial
         Purchasers, dated the Closing Date, covering the matters referred to in
         subparagraph (ix) of Exhibit A, and such other matters as shall be
         agreed by the Initial Purchasers.

                           With respect to subparagraph (ix) of Exhibit A, Davis
         Polk & Wardwell may state that their opinion and belief are based upon
         their participation in the preparation of the Offering Memorandum
         (excluding any documents incorporated by reference therein) and any
         amendments or supplements thereto and review and discussion of the
         contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification,
         except as specified. Davis Polk & Wardwell may also state that they
         have relied solely on the opinion of William G. von Glahn, Esq., as to
         matters relating to the regulation of the Company by the Federal Energy
         Regulatory Commission.

                  (f) The Initial Purchasers shall have received on the Closing
         Date a letter, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial
         Purchasers, from Ernst & Young LLP, independent public accountants,
         containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included
         in accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the
         financial statements and certain financial information contained or
         incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum.

                  (g) The Initial Purchasers and the Company shall have validly
         entered into the Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the
         form of Exhibit C hereto.

         6. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. In further consideration of the agreements
of the Initial Purchasers herein contained, the Company, its affiliates and any
person acting on its or their behalf, covenant with the Initial Purchasers as
follows:

                  (a) The Company, its affiliates and any person acting on its
         or their behalf will not, directly or indirectly:

                           (i) engage in any directed selling efforts (within
                  the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act) with
                  respect to the Securities;

                                       13
<PAGE>

                          (ii) offer or sell the Securities in the United States
                  by any form of general solicitation or general advertising
                  (within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act)
                  or in any manner involving a public offering within the
                  meaning of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act; or

                         (iii) sell, solicit any offers to buy or offer to sell
                  or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security in a manner
                  that would require registration of the Securities under the
                  Securities Act in accordance with the theory of "integration"
                  referred to in Regulation D under the Securities Act.

                  (b) While any Security remains outstanding, during any period
         in which the Company is not subject to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
         the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and its securities are
         not exempt from Section 12(g) thereof pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b)
         thereunder, the Company will upon request make available to the Initial
         Purchasers, to any holder of Securities, and to any prospective
         purchaser designated by any holder of Securities, the information
         regarding the Company specified in, and satisfying the requirements of,
         Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

                  (c) The Company will prepare the Final Offering Memorandum in
         a form approved by the Initial Purchasers, and before amending or
         supplementing the Final Offering Memorandum, will furnish to Salomon
         Smith Barney Inc. on behalf of the Initial Purchasers a copy of each
         such proposed amendment or supplement and will not prepare any such
         proposed amendment or supplement to which the Initial Purchasers
         reasonably object.

                  (d) As soon as practicable but in no event later than the New
         York Business Day (as defined below) next succeeding the date of this
         Agreement and from time to time during the period that in the opinion
         of counsel for the Initial Purchasers a Final Offering Memorandum is
         required by law to be delivered in connection with Exempt Resales by
         the Initial Purchasers, the Company will furnish the Initial
         Purchasers, in New York City, with copies of the Final Offering
         Memorandum and each amendment or supplement thereto, together with any
         independent accountants' report contained in the Final Offering
         Memorandum, and any amendment or supplement containing amendments to
         the financial statements covered by such report, signed by the
         accountants, and additional copies thereof in such quantities as the
         Initial Purchasers from time to time reasonably request, and if, at any
         time prior to the consummation of any Exempt Resale, any event shall
         have occurred as a result of which the Final Offering Memorandum as
         then amended or

                                       14
<PAGE>

         supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or
         omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
         statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
         were made when such Final Offering Memorandum is delivered, not
         misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary or
         desirable, during such same period to amend or supplement the Final
         Offering Memorandum, the Company will notify the Initial Purchasers and
         upon the Initial Purchaser's request to prepare and furnish without
         charge to the Initial Purchasers and to any dealer in securities as
         many copies as the Initial Purchasers may from time to time reasonably
         request of the amended Final Offering Memorandum or supplement to the
         Final Offering Memorandum which will correct such statement or omission
         or effect such compliance. For the purposes of this paragraph, "New
         York Business Day" shall mean any day that is not a day on which
         banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or required
         by law or regulation to close;

                  (e) During the period beginning on the date hereof and
         continuing to and including the Closing Date, the Company will not
         offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt
         securities of the Company or warrants to purchase debt securities of
         the Company substantially similar to the Securities (other than the
         Securities and commercial paper issued in the ordinary course of
         business), without the prior written consent of the Initial Purchasers.

                  (f) The Company will arrange for the qualification of the
         Securities for sale under the laws of such states in the United States
         as the Initial Purchasers designate and will continue such
         qualifications in effect so long as required for the resale of the
         Securities by the Initial Purchasers; provided that the Company will
         not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a
         general consent to service of process in any such state.

                  (g) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this
         Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company
         will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations
         under this Agreement, including: (i) expenses associated with the
         preparation, printing and distribution of the Offering Memorandum and
         all amendments and supplements thereto; (ii) the preparation, issuance
         and delivery of the Securities; (iii) the fees and disbursements of the
         Company's counsel and accountants and of the Trustee and its counsel;
         (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Initial Purchasers' counsel; (v)
         the costs of qualification of the Securities under state securities or
         blue sky laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 6(f),
         including filing fees and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
         Initial Purchasers in connection therewith and in connection with the
         preparation of any blue

                                       15
<PAGE>

         sky or legal investment memoranda; (vi) the costs of printing and
         delivery to the Initial Purchasers in quantities as herein above stated
         of copies of the Offering Memorandum and any amendments or supplements
         thereto; (vii) the costs of printing and delivery to the Initial
         Purchasers of copies of any blue sky or legal investment memoranda;
         (viii) any fees charged by rating agencies for the rating of the
         Securities; and (ix) any expenses incurred by the Company in connection
         with a "road show" presentation to potential investors.

                  (h) To take all reasonable action necessary to enable Standard
         & Poor's Rating Service, a division of McGraw Hill, Inc. ("S&P"), and
         Moody's Investor Service, Inc. ("MOODY'S") to provide their respective
         ratings of the Securities.

                  (i) To cooperate with the Initial Purchasers and use its
         reasonable best efforts to permit the Securities to be eligible for
         clearance and settlement through the facilities of The Depository Trust
         Company.

         7. COVENANTS OF THE INITIAL PURCHASERS.

                  (a) Each Initial Purchaser severally acknowledges that the
         Securities have not been and will not be registered under the
         Securities Act and severally agrees that it, its affiliates and any
         person acting on its or their behalf:

                           (i) will not offer or sell the Securities in the
                  United States by any form of general solicitation or general
                  advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D under the
                  Securities Act) or in any manner involving a public offering
                  within the meaning of Section 4(2) if the Securities Act; and

                           (ii) will offer or sell the Securities only to
                  persons whom it reasonably believes to be qualified
                  institutional buyers ("QIBS") within the meaning of Rule 144A
                  under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 144A or in
                  offshore transactions to non-U.S. persons in reliance on
                  Regulation S.

         8. INDEMNITY AND CONTRIBUTION.

                  (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
         Initial Purchaser and each person, if any, who controls any of the
         Initial Purchasers within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
         Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
         amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), from and against any and all losses,
         claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any
         legal or other expenses

                                       16
<PAGE>

         reasonably incurred by any Initial Purchaser or any such controlling
         person in connection with defending or investigating any such action or
         claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
         material fact contained in the Offering Memorandum or any amendment
         thereof (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished
         any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or
         alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
         therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
         except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are
         caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
         statement or omission based upon information relating to each Initial
         Purchaser furnished to the Company in writing by the Initial Purchasers
         expressly for use therein; provided however that the foregoing
         indemnity agreement with respect to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum
         shall not inure to the benefit of the Initial Purchasers, or any person
         controlling any of the Initial Purchasers, if the person asserting any
         such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased Securities, and a
         copy of the Final Offering Memorandum (as then amended or supplemented
         if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
         thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of the Initial
         Purchasers to such person, at or prior to the written confirmation of
         the sale of the Securities to such person, and if the Final Offering
         Memorandum (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect
         giving rise to such losses, claims, damages or liabilities.

                  (b) Each Initial Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly,
         to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its
         officers, its employees, its agents and each person, if any, who
         controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
         Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as
         the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Initial Purchaser, but
         only with reference to information relating to such Initial Purchaser
         furnished to the Company in writing by each Initial Purchaser expressly
         for use in the Offering Memorandum or any amendments or supplements
         thereto.

                  (c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental
         investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of
         which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b)
         of this Section 8, such person (the "INDEMNIFIED PARTY") shall promptly
         notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the
         "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing and the indemnifying party, upon
         request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably
         satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
         party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such
         proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel
         related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified
         party shall have the

                                       17
<PAGE>

         right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such
         counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i)
         the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually
         agreed to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the indemnifying party
         shall have failed to assume the defense of such action or employ
         counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or (iii) the
         named parties to any such proceeding (including any impeded parties)
         include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and
         representation of both parties by the same counsel would be
         inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between
         them. Such firm shall be designated in writing by Salomon Smith Barney
         Inc., in the case of the parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a),
         and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to
         Section 8(b). It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not,
         in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection
         with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be
         liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in
         addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and
         that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are
         incurred. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement
         of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled
         with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff,
         the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from
         and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
         judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an
         indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to
         reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as
         contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the
         indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of
         any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such
         settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such
         indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying
         party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance
         with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying
         party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
         party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in
         respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party
         and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified
         party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such
         indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject
         matter of such proceeding and does not include a statement as to or an
         admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of
         the indemnified party.

                  (d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in
         paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 8 is unavailable to an indemnified
         party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
         liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under
         such paragraph, in lieu of

                                       18
<PAGE>

         indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the
         amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such
         losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is
         appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on
         the one hand and each Initial Purchaser on the other hand from the
         offering and sale of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided
         by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such
         proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
         referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the
         Company on the one hand and of the Initial Purchasers on the other hand
         in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such
         losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant
         equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company
         on the one hand and the Initial Purchasers on the other hand in
         connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be in
         the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering
         of the Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company
         and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
         Initial Purchasers, in each case as set forth in the Offering
         Memorandum, bears to the aggregate initial offering price of the
         Securities. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the
         Initial Purchasers on the other hand shall be determined by reference
         to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
         of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
         material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the
         Initial Purchasers and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access
         to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
         omission.

                  (e) The Company and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would
         not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8
         were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of
         allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations
         referred to in paragraph (d) of this Section 8. The amount paid or
         payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
         damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding
         paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
         forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
         indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending or
         appearing as a third party witness in any such action or claim.
         Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, the Initial
         Purchasers shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of
         the amount by which the total price at which the Securities purchased
         by it exceeds the amount of any damages that the Initial Purchasers
         have otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
         untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. The remedies provided
         for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights
         or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party
         at law or in equity.

                                       19
<PAGE>

                  (f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in
         this Section 8 and the representations, warranties and other statements
         of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and
         in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this
         Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial
         Purchasers or any person controlling the Initial Purchasers or by or on
         behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person
         controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of
         the Securities.

         9. TERMINATION. This Agreement shall be subject to termination by
notice given by the Initial Purchasers to the Company, if (a) after the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date any of
the events described in Section 5(a) shall have occurred or (i) trading
generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by, as the case
may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the Chicago Board of Options
Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (ii)
trading of any securities of the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation or
The Williams Companies, Inc. shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any
over-the-counter market, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
activities in New York shall have been declared by either Federal or New York
State authorities or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation
of hostilities (including, without limitation, an act of terrorism) or any
change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is
material and adverse and (b) in the case of any of the events specified in
clauses (a)(i) through (iv), such event, singly or together with any other such
event, makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to market the Securities on the
terms and in the manner contemplated in the Offering Memorandum. Notice of such
cancellation shall be given to the Company by telecopy or telephone but shall be
subsequently confirmed by letter.

         10. EFFECTIVENESS; DEFAULTING INITIAL PURCHASERS. This Agreement shall
become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the Initial Purchasers shall fail or
refuse to purchase Securities that it has or they have agreed to purchase
hereunder on such date, and the aggregate principal amount of Securities which
such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or
refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount
of the Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Initial Purchasers
shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the principal amount of
Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I bear to the
principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all such
non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, or in such other proportions as you may
specify, to purchase the

                                       20
<PAGE>

Securities which such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed
but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall
the principal amount of Securities that any Initial Purchaser has agreed to
purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 10 by
an amount in excess of one-ninth of such principal amount of Securities without
the written consent of such Initial Purchaser. If, on the Closing Date, any
Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase
Securities and the aggregate principal amount of Securities with respect to
which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal
amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory
to you and the Company for the purchase of such Securities are not made within
36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on
the part of any non-defaulting Initial Purchaser or the Company. In any such
case either you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing
Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required
changes, in the Offering Memorandum or in any other documents or arrangements
may be effected. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any
defaulting Initial Purchaser from liability in respect of any default of such
Initial Purchaser under this Agreement.

         If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Initial Purchasers, or any
of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply
with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for
any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this
Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Initial Purchasers or such Initial
Purchasers as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves,
severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements
of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Initial Purchasers in connection
with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.

         Any notice under this Section 10 may be made by telecopy or telephone
but shall be subsequently confirmed by letter.

         11. REIMBURSEMENT OF INITIAL PURCHASER'S EXPENSES. If this Agreement
shall be terminated by the Initial Purchasers because of any failure or refusal
on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the
conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable
to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the
Initial Purchasers for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and
disbursements of its counsel) reasonably incurred by the Initial Purchasers in
connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereunder.

         12. NOTICES. Except as otherwise provided notice given pursuant to any
of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered
(a) if to the Company, at 2800 Post Oak Blvd., P.O. Box 1396, Houston, Texas
77251, Attention: Treasurer, or (b) if to the Initial Purchasers, at the offices
of Salomon

                                       21
<PAGE>

Smith Barney Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013, or in any case to
such other address as the person to be notified may have requested in writing.

         13. SUCCESSORS. The Agreement is made solely for the benefit of the
Initial Purchasers, the Company, their directors and officers and other
controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and their respective
successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right
under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term "successors and assigns" as used
in this Agreement shall not include a purchaser from the Initial Purchasers of
any of the Securities in his status as such purchaser.

         14. PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY. If any section, paragraph or provision of
this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such
determination shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
section, paragraph or provision hereof.

         15. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be signed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the
signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

         16. APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

         17. HEADINGS. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of
this Agreement.

                                       22
<PAGE>

         Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
among the Company and the Initial Purchasers.

                                     Very truly yours,

                                     TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORPORATION

                                     By: /s/ Jeffrey P. Heinrichs
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:  Jeffrey P. Heinrichs
                                         Title: Treasurer

Accepted as of the date hereof:

SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.
ABN AMRO INCORPORATED
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
COMMERZBANK CAPITAL MARKETS CORP.
CREDIT LYONNAIS SECURITIES (USA) INC.
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) INC.
UBS WARBURG LLC
BANC ONE CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.
MIZUHO INTERNATIONAL PLC
TD SECURITIES (USA) INC.

         By: SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.

         /s/ Anne Clarke Wolfe
         -----------------------------
         Name: Anne Clarke Wolff
         Title: Managing Director

                                       23
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                     OPINION OF WILLIAM G. VON GLAHN, ESQ.,
                  SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL OF
                          THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.

         (i) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have been duly
incorporated (in the case of each Subsidiary that is a corporation) or otherwise
validly organized or validly formed and are validly existing in good standing
under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of formation or incorporation,
have the requisite power and authority to own their property and to conduct
their business as described in the Offering Memorandum and are duly qualified to
do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their
respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective
businesses requires such qualification, except to the extent such failure to be
qualified or in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the
consolidated financial position, results of operations, business or prospects of
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a "MATERIAL ADVERSE
EFFECT"), and all of the issued shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary (in
the case of each Subsidiary that is a corporation) or membership interests (in
the case of each Subsidiary which is a limited liability corporation) have been
duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and
are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances, equities or claims;

         (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries hold all franchises, certificates
of public convenience and necessity, consents, authorizations, approvals,
orders, permits, licenses and easements necessary to own, operate and maintain
its properties as described in the Offering Memorandum, subject only to such
defects, irregularities, restrictions, conditions and other matters as are
described in the Offering Memorandum or which do not materially affect the right
of the Company or its subsidiaries to own, operate and maintain its properties
and to conduct its business as described therein, and has made all declarations
and filings with, all federal, state, local and other governmental authorities,
and all courts or other tribunals, necessary to conduct its business in the
manner described in the Offering Memorandum, except to the extent that the lack
of such consents, authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates or permits
would not have a Material Adverse Effect;

         (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is in
violation of its charter or bylaws, (ii) is in default in any material respect,
and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would
constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term,
covenant or condition

                                      A-1
<PAGE>

contained in any material indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or
other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or
to which any of its properties or assets is subject or (iii) is in violation in
any material respect of any law, ordinance, governmental rule, regulation or
court decree to which it or its property or assets may be subject or has failed
to obtain any material license, permit, certificate, franchise or other
governmental authorization or permit necessary to the ownership of its property
or to the conduct of its business except as disclosed in the Offering
Memorandum, and in case of (ii) and (iii), for such defaults, violations, or
failures to obtain such authorizations or permits that have not had or are not
reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect;

         (iv) each of the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement,
the Indenture and the Securities have been duly authorized, executed, and
delivered by the Company. The Purchase Agreement is a valid and binding
agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms under the
laws of the State of New York, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, and other laws of general applicability relating to
or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles, and except as
rights to indemnity and contribution thereunder may be limited under applicable
law;

         (v) the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance
by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement, the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture will not contravene any provision of
applicable law, or the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or
any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company that is material to
the Company, or any judgment, order, decree of any governmental body, agency or
court having jurisdiction over the Company;

         (vi) the Company has filed all documents with the Commission that it is
required to file under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable,
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and such documents
(other than the financial statements, including the notes thereto, and related
schedules therein, and the other financial and accounting data, as to which such
counsel need express no opinion) conformed in all material respects to the
requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

         (vii) except as set forth in the Company's filings with the Commission,
to the knowledge of such counsel, there are no legal or governmental proceedings
pending or threatened to which the Company is a party or to which any of the
properties of the Company is subject that are required to be described in the
documents incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum and are not so
described;

                                      A-2
<PAGE>

         (viii) the Company is not, and following the consummation of the
transactions contemplated herein will not be an "investment company" or an
entity "controlled" by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and

         In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel or personnel
under such counsel's supervision have participated in conferences with officers
and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent
auditors for the Company, your representatives and your counsel at which the
contents of the Offering Memorandum and related matters were discussed and,
although such counsel is not passing upon, and does not assume any
responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements
contained or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum, on the basis
of the foregoing, no facts have come to such counsel's attention that have led
such counsel to believe that the Offering Memorandum, as of its date or as of
the Closing Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of material fact or
omitted or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, except that such counsel need not express
an opinion or belief with respect to the financial statements, schedules and
other financial, statistical and accounting data included or incorporated by
reference in or excluded from the Offering Memorandum.

                                      A-3
<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                         OPINION OF ANDREWS & KURTH LLP

         1. The Securities, when authenticated in accordance with the terms of
the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Initial Purchasers in
accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement, will be valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
the terms of the Securities and the Indenture under the laws of the State of New
York.

         2. The Indenture is a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms under the laws of
the State of New York.

         3. The Securities and the Indenture conform in all material respects to
the descriptions thereof contained in the Offering Memorandum.

         4. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or filing
with, any Governmental Authority is legally required under any Applicable Laws
of the State of New York or under any Applicable Laws of the United States of
America for the issuance or sale to the Initial Purchasers of the Securities as
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.

         5. The execution and delivery by the Company of the Purchase Agreement
and the Indenture and the issuance and sale of the Securities to the Initial
Purchasers as contemplated thereby and the performance of the Company's
obligations pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture will not
conflict with or violate any Applicable Law of the State of New York or any
Applicable Law of the United States of America.

         6. The Registration Rights Agreement is a valid and binding agreement
of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms
under the laws of the State of New York.

         7. The Indenture conforms in all material respects to the requirements
of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "TIA"), and the rules and
regulations of the SEC applicable to an indenture that would be qualified
thereunder.

         8. The information in the Offering Memorandum under the caption
"Description of the Notes- Terms and Conditions of the Notes" and "Exchange
Offer; Registration Rights" insofar as such information constitutes summaries
of

                                      B-1
<PAGE>

legal matters or certain provisions of the documents referred to therein, fairly
summarizes the matters referred to therein in all material respects.

         9. Assuming (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of
the Company set forth in Section 1 of the Purchase Agreement, (ii) the due
performance by the Company of the covenants and agreements set forth in Section
6 of the Purchase Agreement, (iii) the compliance by the Initial Purchasers with
the offering and transfer procedures and the restrictions described in the
Offering Memorandum and their covenants and agreements in Sections 2 and 7 of
the Purchase Agreement, (iv) the accuracy of the representations and warranties
of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 2 of the Purchase Agreement, and
(v) and that purchasers to whom the Initial Purchasers initially resell the
Notes receive a copy of the Offering Memorandum prior to such sale, the offer,
sale and delivery of the Notes to the Initial Purchasers in the manner
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Offering Memorandum and the
initial resale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers in the manner contemplated
in the Offering Memorandum and the Purchase Agreement, do not require
registration under the Securities Act, and prior to the consummation of the
Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement (as
defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), the Indenture does not require
qualification under the TIA, it being understood that such counsel expresses no
opinion as to any subsequent resale of any Note.

                                      B-2
<PAGE>

                                                                      Schedule I

<Table>
<Caption>
Initial Purchaser                                      Principal Amount Purchased
--------------------------------------------------     --------------------------
<S>                                                    <C>
Salomon Smith Barney Inc..........................     $ 97,500,000

ABN AMRO Incorporated.............................     $ 19,500,000

Banc of America Securities LLC....................     $ 19,500,000

Commerzbank Capital Markets Corp..................     $ 19,500,000

Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc..............     $ 19,500,000

Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation............     $ 19,500,000

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc........................     $ 19,500,000

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc....................     $ 19,500,000

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc..........................     $ 19,500,000

UBS Warburg LLC...................................     $ 19,500,000

Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.....................     $ 13,000,000

Barclays Capital Inc..............................     $ 13,000,000

Mizuho International plc..........................     $ 13,000,000

TD Securities (USA) Inc...........................     $ 13,000,000

                                                       $325,000,000
                                                       ============
</Table><PAGE>
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.6
                                   RESOLUTION
                                     OF THE
                               BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                                December 18, 2000

     WHEREAS, pursuant to Article IX, Section 2 of the Company's 1994 Incentive
Plan (the "Plan") the Board desires to amend the Plan in certain respects;

     NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the following Section 4 be, and it
hereby is, added to Article III of the Plan:

          "4. Restricted Stock Units. The Committee may also, in its discretion,
authorize the granting of Restricted Stock Units to such eligible persons as may
be selected by the Committee (a "Grantee"). Each such grant may utilize any or
all of the authorizations and shall be subject to all of the requirements
contained in the following provisions:

          (a)  Each such grant shall constitute the agreement by the Company to
               deliver Common Stock to the Grantee in the future in
               consideration of the performance of services by the Grantee, but
               subject to the fulfillment of such conditions, if any, as the
               Committee may specify.

          (b)  Each such grant may be made without additional consideration or
               in consideration of a payment by the Grantee that is less that
               the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock at the date of
               grant.

          (c)  For the purposes of this Section 4, the term "Vesting Period"
               shall mean the period, if any, specified in the Agreement
               pertaining to any Restricted Stock Unit or Units between the date
               of issuance of such Units (or a portion thereof) and the date on
               which Common Stock is issuable pursuant thereto. Each such grant
               of Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to a Vesting Period of
               not less than one (1) year, as determined by the Committee at the
               date of grant, and shall provide for the early lapse and
               termination of such Vesting Period upon a Change in Control as
               provided in Article IX, Section 8 of this Plan. Unless otherwise
               determined by the Committee at the time of grant of any
               Restricted Stock Unit, if the employment by the Company or any of
               its subsidiaries of the Grantee thereof terminates by reason of
               retirement on or after age 65 (or prior to such age with the
               consent of the Committee), Disability or death, the Vesting
               Period applicable to such

<PAGE>

               Restricted Stock Unit shall be deemed, as of the date of such
               termination, to be terminated. In the event that a Grantee ceases
               to be an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries for
               reasons other than retirement on or after age 65 (or prior to
               such age with the consent of the Committee), death or Disability,
               any of such Grantee's Restricted Stock Units for which the
               Vesting Period has not expired, lapsed or been terminated shall
               be forfeited.

          (d)  At the time of any grant of Restricted Stock Units, the
               Committee, in its discretion, may authorize the Grantee to defer
               the receipt of Common Stock with respect to any Unit for which
               the Vesting Period has expired, lapsed or been terminated for
               such period or periods as may be specified by the Committee and
               set forth in the related Agreement.

          (e)  The Grantee shall have no right to transfer any rights under his
               or her award or Restricted Stock Units and, unless and until
               Common Stock has been issued to the Grantee pursuant to a
               Restricted Stock Unit, shall have no rights of ownership in the
               Common Stock subject to such Restricted Stock Units and shall
               have no right to vote such stock, but the Committee may, at or
               after the date of grant, authorize the payment of dividend
               equivalents on such Common Stock on either a current or deferred
               or contingent basis, either in cash or in additional shares of
               Common Stock.

          (f)  Each grant or sale of Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced
               by an Agreement executed on behalf of the Company by any officer
               and delivered to and accepted by the Grantee and shall contain
               such terms and provisions, consistent with the Plan, as the
               Committee, may approve."

          RESOLVED FURTHER, that Article IX, Section 8(a)(1) of the Plan shall
be amended by (i) the addition of the following clause (vi); "(vi) the Vesting
Period applicable to any Restricted Stock Unit shall lapse;" and (ii) the
present clause (vi) of Section 8(a)(1) of the Plan shall be renumbered "(vii)".

          RESOLVED FURTHER, that Article IX, Section 8(a)(2) of the Plan shall
be amended by adding to clause (iii) thereof the words "Restricted Stock Units".

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