Energy Transfer Partners LP, Dallas, (NYSE: ETP) reports an expansion of the planned Tiger pipeline that will service the Haynesville shale producing region in Louisiana and East Texas.

Energy Transfer has entered into a binding, 10-year agreement with the expansion’s foundation shipper for 400 million cubic feet per day of capacity, bringing the pipeline’s long-term contractual commitments to 2.4 billion cubic feet per day. Energy Transfer will launch a binding open season later this month to solicit additional shipper interest in the Tiger pipeline expansion. Ultimate capacity of the expansion will be based upon producer response.

Energy Transfer senior vice president, interstate division, Lee Hanse says, “We are pleased to have this opportunity to expand the Tiger pipeline. This long-term commitment, coupled with additional interest from other producers in the area, reinforces the need for this expansion project. The Tiger pipeline system will further extend Energy Transfer’s expansive natural gas pipeline network, which provides shippers with unprecedented access from production basins to markets throughout the country.”

The approximately 180-mile, 42-inch Tiger natural gas pipeline system, which was announced in January 2009, will serve the Haynesville producing region in Louisiana and the Carthage Hub area in East Texas and will have interconnects with seven major interstate pipelines serving the eastern U.S. The pipeline is expected to be in service the first half of 2011, and the expansion is expected to be completed in the second half of 2011. The construction of the pipeline and expansion project are subject to receipt of approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Energy Transfer Partners provides midstream and intrastate transportation and storage services in Texas and the Rockies.