Nov 03, 2009 (Tulsa World - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX News Network) --

Both ONEOK Inc. and its subsidiary, ONEOK Partners LP, reaped significant third-quarter profits despite lower natural gas prices compared with the same time last year, the Tulsa companies announced Tuesday afternoon.

ONEOK Inc.'s net income totaled $48 million for the three-month period ending Sept. 30. ONEOK Partners' profit hit $121.5 million for the third quarter. "ONEOK continues to benefit from its investment in ONEOK Partners, which successfully completed more than $2 billion in capital investments at the end of the third quarter, providing the company with solid earnings and cash flow growth," CEO John Gibson said in a statement. "These projects, together with additional opportunities the partnership has identified over the next five years, are expected to drive additional growth at the partnership and at ONEOK."

Executives from ONEOK and its partnership will participate in a Wednesday conference call to discuss the earnings reports. The call is scheduled for 10 a.m.

Both natural gas firms' quarterly profits were down from 2008's third quarter due to lower commodity prices.

ONEOK's net income in the most recent quarter, which was 45 cents per diluted share, compared with $58.0 million, or 55 cents per diluted share, in the same period last year.

Net income for the nine months ending Sept. 30 was $212.0 million, or $2.00 per diluted share, compared with $243.7 million, or $2.30 per diluted share, in the same period last year.

For ONEOK Partners, its most recent quarterly net income compared with $203.9 million in the same period in

2008.

For the nine months ended Sept. 30, net income at ONEOK Partners was $318.6 million, or $2.67 per unit, compared with $503.4 million, or $4.93 per unit in the same period in 2008.

The upside, however, included benefits from newly completed pipelines, higher earnings on utility rate mechanisms and increased transportation margins.

In fact, both ONEOK's distribution and energy-services segments enjoyed third-quarters profits compared with losses same time last year. ONEOK Partners completed construction on Overland Pass, Arbuckle, Piceance Lateral and Fargo pipelines or extensions, thus increasing volumes.

"We successfully completed our more than $2 billion capital investment program," Gibson said. "These investments, coupled with the additional opportunities we've identified over the next five years, establish a strong foundation for growth in both our fee-based earnings and distributions to unitholders."

ONEOK Partners owns and manages natural gas and natural gas liquids gathering, processing and transportation assets throughout the U.S. ONEOK Inc. owns several natural gas utilities, including Oklahoma Natural Gas, and a controlling interest in the partnership.

Oklahoma Natural Gas has a $54.5 million annual rate increase pending before the state's Corporation Commission. Hearings on the ONG request begin next week.

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