ONEOK Reports Higher Third-quarter 2008 Results; Affirms 2008 Earnings Guidance

November 05, 2008

TULSA, Okla., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) today announced third-quarter 2008 net income of $58.0 million, or 55 cents per diluted share, compared with $13.9 million, or 13 cents per diluted share, in the same period last year.

Net income for the nine-month period ending Sept. 30, 2008, was $243.7 million, or $2.30 per diluted share, compared with $202.0 million, or $1.83 per diluted share, in the same period last year.

The company also affirmed its 2008 net income guidance, but narrowed the range to $2.95 to $3.05 per diluted share, reflecting stronger nine-month performance in the ONEOK Partners segment, partially offset by anticipated lower operating income in the energy services segment. ONEOK's previous 2008 earnings guidance was estimated to be in the range of $2.90 to $3.10 per diluted share. Additional information is available in Exhibit A.

"Our quarterly performance was driven by the exceptional results in our ONEOK Partners segment, clearly demonstrating the benefit ONEOK Partners provides to ONEOK," said John W. Gibson, ONEOK chief executive officer.

"Our ONEOK Partners segment's exceptional performance was the result of volume growth and wider natural gas liquids product price differentials in its natural gas liquids businesses, and higher commodity prices and volumes in the natural gas gathering and processing business. In addition, for the nine months, our distribution segment benefited from new rate mechanisms and cost controls that we successfully implemented," Gibson added.

Operating income for the third quarter 2008 was $192.2 million, compared with $102.8 million for the third quarter 2007. The increase was primarily due to wider NGL product price differentials and higher realized commodity prices in the ONEOK Partners segment.

Year-to-date 2008 operating income increased to $698.3 million, compared with $566.8 million for the same period last year. The increase was primarily due to ONEOK Partners' higher realized commodity prices, wider NGL product price differentials, increased NGL throughput and incremental earnings from the North System, an interstate natural gas liquids and refined petroleum products pipeline system that was acquired in October 2007. In addition, rate mechanisms in Oklahoma and Texas benefited the distribution segment during the 2008 nine-month period. These increases were partially offset by the energy services segment, which experienced lower storage, marketing and transportation margins than in the previous year.

"Through our ONEOK Partners segment, we realized higher margins in the favorable commodity price environment in the first nine months of 2008. In the fourth quarter, we are experiencing a return to more normal NGL product differentials and commodity prices," Gibson added.

Operating costs were $203.9 million in the third quarter 2008, compared with $181.1 million in the third quarter 2007. Operating costs for the nine months 2008 were $585.3 million, compared with $539.3 million in the same period last year. Operating costs increased for the three- and nine-month periods, primarily as a result of incremental operating expenses associated with ONEOK Partners' acquisition of the North System, as well as increased employee-related costs.

In response to uncertainties in the capital markets, ONEOK and ONEOK Partners took proactive measures to increase their available cash by drawing down their respective revolving credit facilities to provide funding for working capital requirements and growth projects.

At Oct. 31, 2008, ONEOK had $1.4 billion outstanding and $115 million available under its revolving credit facilities and approximately $335 million in available cash and cash equivalents. The additional funds and remaining borrowing capacity, as well as operating cash flow, will fund ONEOK's capital requirements for the remainder of the winter heating season.

At Oct. 31, 2008, ONEOK Partners had $870 million outstanding and $130 million available under its revolving credit facility and approximately $396 million in available cash and cash equivalents. The additional funds and remaining borrowing capacity, as well as operating cash flow, will fund the partnership's capital requirements for the remainder of 2008 and into 2009.

"Our strong balance sheet and free cash flow have served us well, especially in today's challenging financial markets, providing us with the resources and financial flexibility to operate and continue to grow our business," Gibson added.

    THIRD-QUARTER 2008 SUMMARY INCLUDED:

    *  Operating income of $192.2 million, compared with $102.8 million in the
       third quarter last year;
    *  ONEOK Partners segment operating income of $197.5 million, compared
       with $105.1 million in the third quarter 2007;
    *  Distribution segment operating loss of $2.9 million, compared with a
       loss of $1.6 million in the third quarter 2007;
    *  Energy services segment operating loss of $3.5 million, compared with a
       loss of $0.7 million in the third quarter 2007;
    *  Distributions declared from the company's general partner interest in
       ONEOK Partners of $22.7 million for the third quarter 2008;
       distributions declared from the company's limited partner interest in
       ONEOK Partners of $45.8 million for the third quarter 2008;
    *  ONEOK, on a stand-alone basis, at Sept. 30, 2008, having $1.0 billion
       in short-term debt, $57.1 million of cash and cash equivalents and
       $854.3 million of gas in storage;
    *  ONEOK, on a stand-alone basis, having year-to-date cash flow from
       continuing operations before changes in working capital of
       $356.1 million, which exceeded capital expenditures and dividends of
       $293.9 million by $62.2 million;
    *  On Oct. 30, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission hearing administrator
       recommending approval of a joint and stipulated agreement to allow for
       recovery of the fuel-related portion of bad debt costs through the
       purchased gas adjustment mechanism in the distribution segment's
       Oklahoma jurisdiction; a hearing before the full commission is pending;
    *  On Oct. 31, filing for incentive-based rates in the distribution
       segment's Oklahoma jurisdiction;
    *  Filing for recovery of, and a return on, $2.9 million in capital
       investment between rate cases for safety-related and public improvement
       infrastructure in the distribution segment's Kansas jurisdiction;
    *  Announcing the D-J Basin Lateral Pipeline project in the ONEOK Partners
       segment to connect additional NGL supplies to the Overland Pass
       Pipeline;
    *  ONEOK Partners commissioning the Overland Pass Pipeline to transport
       unfractionated NGLs from the Rockies to the Mid-Continent;
    *  ONEOK Partners completing the NGL pipeline extension into the Woodford
       Shale and beginning construction on the previously announced Arbuckle
       Pipeline; and
    *  Declaring a quarterly dividend of 40 cents per share, payable on
       Nov. 14, 2008.

     THIRD-QUARTER AND YEAR-TO-DATE 2008 BUSINESS-UNIT RESULTS

     ONEOK Partners

The ONEOK Partners segment's third-quarter 2008 operating income increased 88 percent to $197.5 million, compared with $105.1 million in the same period 2007.

Third-quarter 2008 results, when compared with the same period in 2007, included $43.7 million from wider regional NGL product price differentials, $13.3 million in operational measurement gains primarily at NGL storage caverns, and $12.5 million from increased volumes in its NGL gathering and fractionation business; $18.3 million from higher realized commodity prices in the partnership's natural gas gathering and processing business; and $12.0 million of incremental margins from the acquired North System.

Third-quarter 2008 operating costs were $97.5 million, compared with $80.1 million in the third quarter 2007. The increase was primarily due to incremental operating expenses associated with the North System and higher employee-related costs.

For the nine months, operating income was $511.8 million, compared with $317.1 million in the same period a year earlier.

Nine-month 2008 results, when compared with the same period in 2007, included $66.2 million from higher realized commodity prices in the partnership's natural gas gathering and processing business; $59.3 million from wider regional NGL product price differentials and $31.8 million from increased volumes in its NGL gathering and fractionation business; and $34.0 million of incremental margins from the North System.

Nine-month 2008 operating costs were $272.7 million, compared with $237.4 million in the same period a year earlier. The increase was primarily due to incremental operating expenses associated with the North System and higher employee-related costs.

Equity earnings from investments for the third quarter 2008 were $29.4 million, compared with $22.2 million in 2007. Equity earnings from investments for the nine months 2008 were $74.8 million, compared with $65.0 million in the same period a year earlier. The third-quarter and nine-month increases were primarily due to a gain on the sale of Bison Pipeline LLC by Northern Border Pipeline, of which ONEOK Partners owns a 50 percent equity interest, as well as higher gathering revenues in its various investments, partially offset by lower throughput on Northern Border Pipeline.

Capital expenditures for the nine months 2008 increased to $860.2 million, compared with $408.4 million in the same period in 2007, as a result of the partnership's internally generated growth projects.

Distribution

The distribution segment reported an operating loss of $2.9 million in the third quarter 2008, compared with a loss of $1.6 million in the third quarter 2007.

Third-quarter 2008 earnings benefited from new rate mechanisms, which contributed $3.9 million in Oklahoma and $1.0 million in Texas. These increases were offset by higher operating costs, which increased to $97.6 million in the third quarter 2008 from $91.6 million in the third quarter 2007. The higher operating costs resulted primarily from $3.2 million of higher employee-related costs and $1.2 million from higher fuel-related vehicle costs.

Operating income for the 2008 nine-month period was $117.7 million, compared with $113.5 million in the same period last year. Operating income increased primarily because of the implementation of new capital and expense recovery mechanisms of $10.0 million in Oklahoma and new rates of $2.3 million in Texas.

Operating costs were $285.6 million for the 2008 nine-month period, compared with $278.9 million in the same period of 2007. The higher operating costs were primarily the result of a $3.3 million non-recurring expense reimbursement in 2007, $2.1 million in higher employee-related costs and $1.5 million in higher fuel-related vehicle costs.

Capital expenditures for the nine months 2008 increased to $126.4 million, compared with $108.7 million in the same period in 2007, due to the timing of system maintenance expenditures.

Energy Services

The energy services segment reported a third-quarter operating loss of $3.5 million, compared with a loss of $0.7 million in the same period in 2007.

Third-quarter 2008 results, when compared with the same period in 2007, reflect a $9.9 million decrease in financial trading margins, partially offset by a $7.5 million increase in storage and marketing margins, primarily due to a more favorable pricing environment that benefited optimization activities. Included in the third-quarter storage and marketing margins was a $9.7 million net loss to reflect natural gas in inventory at the lower of cost or market.

Nine-month operating income was $66.4 million, compared with $129.6 million for the same period last year.

Nine-month 2008 results were lower, when compared with the same period a year earlier, primarily due to decreases of $38.6 million in storage and marketing margins, $14.8 million in financial trading margins and $11.7 million in transportation margins. Nine-month 2008 transportation margins decreased, primarily due to a reduction in the basis differentials between the Rocky Mountain and Mid-Continent regions. During the nine-month 2007 period, commodity prices and weather provided a more favorable environment, which improved storage margins.

At Sept. 30, 2008, total natural gas in storage was 74.7 bcf, compared with 80.1 bcf a year earlier. At Oct. 31, 2008, total natural gas in storage was approximately 84.5 bcf. Total natural gas storage capacity under lease was 91 bcf in the third quarter 2008, compared with 96 bcf in the same period in 2007.

    The net margin for the energy services segment was derived from the
following sources:


                                      Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                        September 30,        September 30,
                                         2008     2007       2008      2007
                                              (Thousands of dollars)
             Marketing, storage and
              transportation, gross     $57,268  $38,328   $246,097  $274,607
             Less:  Storage and
              transportation costs      (54,577) (43,390)  (163,135) (141,409)
                Marketing, storage and
                 transportation, net      2,691   (5,062)    82,962   133,198
             Retail marketing             1,715    3,204      9,332     9,377
             Financial trading              413   10,313      1,563    16,342
             Net margin                  $4,819   $8,455    $93,857  $158,917

EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

ONEOK and ONEOK Partners management will conduct a joint conference call on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (10 a.m. Central Standard Time). The call will also be carried live on ONEOK's and ONEOK Partners' Web sites.

To participate in the telephone conference call, dial 866-835-8907, pass code 1292355, or log on to http://www.oneok.com or http://www.oneokpartners.com.

If you are unable to participate in the conference call or the webcast, the replay will be available on ONEOK's Web site, http://www.oneok.com, and ONEOK Partners' Web site, http://www.oneokpartners.com, for 30 days. A recording will be available by phone for seven days. The playback call may be accessed at 866-837-8032, pass code 1292355.

ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE: OKE) is a diversified energy company. We are the general partner and own 47.7 percent of ONEOK Partners, L.P. (NYSE: OKS), one of the largest publicly traded limited partnerships, which is a leader in the gathering, processing, storage and transportation of natural gas in the U.S. and owns one of the nation's premier natural gas liquids (NGL) systems, connecting much of the natural gas and NGL supply in the Mid-Continent with key market centers. ONEOK is among the largest natural gas distributors in the United States, serving more than 2 million customers in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. Our energy services operation focuses primarily on marketing natural gas and related services throughout the U.S. ONEOK is a Fortune 500 company.

For information about ONEOK, Inc., visit the Web site: http://www.oneok.com.

Some of the statements contained and incorporated in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements relate to our anticipated financial performance, management's plans and objectives for our future operations, our business prospects, the outcome of regulatory and legal proceedings, market conditions and other matters. We make these forward- looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following discussion is intended to identify important factors that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements include the items identified in the preceding paragraph, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations and other statements contained or incorporated in this news release identified by words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "should," "goal," "forecast," "could," "may," "continue," "might," "potential," "scheduled" and other words and terms of similar meaning.

You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward- looking statements. Those factors may affect our operations, markets, products, services and prices. In addition to any assumptions and other factors referred to specifically in connection with the forward-looking statements, factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement include, among others, the following:

    *  the effects of weather and other natural phenomena on our operations,
       including energy sales and demand for our services and energy prices;
    *  competition from other United States and Canadian energy suppliers and
       transporters as well as alternative forms of energy;
    *  the capital intensive nature of our businesses;
    *  the profitability of assets or businesses acquired by us;
    *  risks of marketing, trading and hedging activities, including the risks
       of changes in energy prices or the financial condition of our
       counterparties;
    *  the uncertainty of estimates, including accruals and costs of
       environmental remediation;
    *  the timing and extent of changes in energy commodity prices;
    *  the effects of changes in governmental policies and regulatory actions,
       including changes with respect to income and other taxes, environmental
       compliance, climate change initiatives, and authorized rates or
       recovery of gas and gas transportation costs;
    *  the impact on drilling and production by factors beyond our control,
       including the demand for natural gas and refinery-grade crude oil;
       producers' desire and ability to obtain necessary permits; reserve
       performance; and capacity constraints on the pipelines that transport
       crude oil, natural gas and NGLs from producing areas and our
       facilities;
    *  changes in demand for the use of natural gas because of market
       conditions caused by concerns about global warming;
    *  the impact of unforeseen changes in interest rates, equity markets,
       inflation rates, economic recession and other external factors over
       which we have no control, including the effect on pension expense and
       funding resulting from changes in stock and bond market returns;
    *  actions by rating agencies concerning the credit ratings of ONEOK and
       ONEOK Partners;
    *  the results of administrative proceedings and litigation, regulatory
       actions and receipt of expected clearances involving the OCC, KCC,
       Texas regulatory authorities or any other local, state or federal
       regulatory body, including the FERC;
    *  our ability to access capital at competitive rates or on terms
       acceptable to us;
    *  risks associated with adequate supply to our gathering, processing,
       fractionation and pipeline facilities, including production declines
       that outpace new drilling;
    *  the risk that material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our
       internal controls over financial reporting could emerge or that minor
       problems could become significant;
    *  the impact and outcome of pending and future litigation;
    *  the ability to market pipeline capacity on favorable terms, including
       the effects of:
           *  future demand for and prices of natural gas and NGLs;
           *  competitive conditions in the overall energy market;
           *  availability of supplies of Canadian and United States natural
              gas; and
           *  availability of additional storage capacity;
    *  performance of contractual obligations by our customers, service
       providers, contractors and shippers;
    *  the timely receipt of approval by applicable governmental entities for
       construction and operation of our pipeline and other projects and
       required regulatory clearances;
    *  our ability to acquire all necessary rights-of-way permits and consents
       in a timely manner, to promptly obtain all necessary materials and
       supplies required for construction, and to construct gathering,
       processing, storage, fractionation and transportation facilities
       without labor or contractor problems;
    *  the mechanical integrity of facilities operated;
    *  demand for our services in the proximity of our facilities;
    *  our ability to control operating costs;
    *  acts of nature, sabotage, terrorism or other similar acts that cause
       damage to our facilities or our suppliers' or shippers' facilities;
    *  economic climate and growth in the geographic areas in which we do
       business;
    *  the risk of a significant slowdown in growth or decline in the U.S.
       economy or the risk of delay in growth recovery in the U.S. economy,
       including increasing liquidity risks in U.S. credit markets;
    *  the impact of recently issued and future accounting pronouncements and
       other changes in accounting policies;
    *  the possibility of future terrorist attacks or the possibility or
       occurrence of an outbreak of, or changes in, hostilities or changes in
       the political conditions in the Middle East and elsewhere;
    *  the risk of increased costs for insurance premiums, security or other
       items as a consequence of terrorist attacks;
    *  risks associated with pending or possible acquisitions and
       dispositions, including our ability to finance or integrate any such
       acquisitions and any regulatory delay or conditions imposed by
       regulatory bodies in connection with any such acquisitions and
       dispositions;
    *  the possible loss of gas distribution franchises or other adverse
       effects caused by the actions of municipalities;
    *  the impact of unsold pipeline capacity being greater or less than
       expected;
    *  the ability to recover operating costs and amounts equivalent to income
       taxes, costs of property, plant and equipment and regulatory assets in
       our state and FERC-regulated rates;
    *  the composition and quality of the natural gas and NGLs we gather and
       process in our plants and transport on our pipelines;
    *  the efficiency of our plants in processing natural gas and extracting
       and fractionating NGLs;
    *  the impact of potential impairment charges;
    *  the risk inherent in the use of information systems in our respective
       businesses, implementation of new software and hardware, and the impact
       on the timeliness of information for financial reporting;
    *  our ability to control construction costs and completion schedules of
       our pipelines and other projects; and
    *  the risk factors listed in the reports we have filed and may file with
       the SEC, which are incorporated by reference.

These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other factors could also have material adverse effects on our future results. These and other risks are described in greater detail in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or change in circumstances, expectations or otherwise.

     Analyst Contact:  Dan Harrison
                       918-588-7950
     Media Contact:    Megan Washbourne
                       918-588-7572



     ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                Three Months Ended       Nine Months Ended
                                   September 30,            September 30,
    (Unaudited)                  2008        2007         2008        2007
                              (Thousands of dollars, except per share amounts)
    Revenues                  $4,239,246  $2,809,997  $13,314,188  $9,492,446
    Cost of sales and fuel     3,784,220   2,469,837   11,852,422   8,219,737
    Net Margin                   455,026     340,160    1,461,766   1,272,709
    Operating Expenses
      Operations and
       maintenance               179,840     160,352      519,263     477,011
      Depreciation and
       amortization               60,249      56,364      179,429     168,458
      General taxes               24,068      20,733       66,079      62,317
    Total Operating Expenses     264,157     237,449      764,771     707,786
    Gain (Loss) on Sale of
     Assets                        1,310          59        1,319       1,893
    Operating Income             192,179     102,770      698,314     566,816
    Equity earnings from
     investments                  29,412      22,162       74,805      64,975
    Allowance for equity
     funds used during
     construction                 15,616       3,691       35,788       6,686
    Other income                  12,723       1,756       16,659      17,444
    Other expense                (11,332)       (654)     (16,347)     (2,213)
    Interest expense             (61,180)    (62,675)    (183,100)   (187,503)
    Income before Minority
     Interests and Income Taxes  177,418      67,050      626,119     466,205
    Minority interests in
     income of consolidated
     subsidiaries                (95,354)    (44,998)    (235,411)   (135,013)
    Income taxes                 (24,031)     (8,138)    (146,973)   (129,195)
    Net Income                   $58,033     $13,914     $243,735    $201,997

    Earnings Per Share of
     Common Stock
    Net Earnings Per Share,
     Basic                         $0.56       $0.13        $2.34       $1.86
    Net Earnings Per Share,
     Diluted                       $0.55       $0.13        $2.30       $1.83

    Average Shares of Common
     Stock (Thousands)
       Basic                     104,446     103,882      104,319     108,543
       Diluted                   105,636     105,931      105,843     110,548

    Dividends Declared Per
     Share of Common Stock         $0.40       $0.36        $1.16       $1.04



     ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
     CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                               September 30,      December 31,
    (Unaudited)                                     2008              2007
    Assets                                         (Thousands of dollars)

    Current Assets
    Cash and cash equivalents                      $72,944           $19,105
    Trade accounts and notes receivable,
     net                                         1,066,606         1,723,212
    Gas and natural gas liquids in
     storage                                     1,120,077           841,362
    Commodity exchanges and imbalances              80,372            82,938
    Energy marketing and risk management
     assets                                        314,905           168,609
    Other current assets                           365,746           116,249
    Total Current Assets                         3,020,650         2,951,475

    Property, Plant and Equipment
    Property, plant and equipment                9,067,172         7,893,492
    Accumulated depreciation and
     amortization                                2,174,001         2,048,311
    Net Property, Plant and Equipment            6,893,171         5,845,181

    Investments and Other Assets
    Goodwill and intangible assets               1,040,142         1,043,773
    Energy marketing and risk management
     assets                                         45,769             3,978
    Investments in unconsolidated
     affiliates                                    756,449           756,260
    Other assets                                   465,882           461,367
    Total Investments and Other Assets           2,308,242         2,265,378

    Total Assets                               $12,222,063       $11,062,034



     ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
     CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                               September 30,      December 31,
    (Unaudited)                                    2008              2007
    Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity          (Thousands of dollars)

    Current Liabilities
    Current maturities of long-term debt          $118,190          $420,479
    Notes payable                                1,322,214           202,600
    Accounts payable                             1,294,630         1,436,005
    Commodity exchanges and imbalances             246,392           252,095
    Energy marketing and risk management
     liabilities                                   303,574           133,903
    Other current liabilities                      332,469           436,585
    Total Current Liabilities                    3,617,469         2,881,667

    Long-term Debt, excluding current
     maturities                                  4,102,250         4,215,046

    Deferred Credits and Other
     Liabilities
    Deferred income taxes                          832,407           680,543
    Energy marketing and risk management
     liabilities                                    59,796            26,861
    Other deferred credits                         493,284           486,645
    Total Deferred Credits and Other
     Liabilities                                 1,385,487         1,194,049

    Commitments and Contingencies

    Minority Interests in Consolidated
     Subsidiaries                                1,058,842           801,964

    Shareholders' Equity
    Common stock, $0.01 par value:
     authorized 300,000,000 shares; issued
     121,568,386 shares and outstanding
     104,468,756 shares at September 30, 2008;
     issued 121,115,217 shares and
     outstanding 103,987,476 shares at
     December 31, 2007                               1,216             1,211
    Paid in capital                              1,300,286         1,273,800
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss           (68,763)           (7,069)
    Retained earnings                            1,534,241         1,411,492
    Treasury stock, at cost: 17,099,630
     shares at September 30, 2008
     and 17,127,741 shares at December 31,
     2007                                         (708,965)         (710,126)
    Total Shareholders' Equity                   2,058,015         1,969,308

    Total Liabilities and Shareholders'
     Equity                                    $12,222,063       $11,062,034



     ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                      Nine Months Ended
                                                        September 30,
    (Unaudited)                                      2008             2007
    Operating Activities                            (Thousands of dollars)
    Net income                                     $243,735         $201,997
    Depreciation and amortization                   179,429          168,458
    Allowance for equity funds used
     during construction                            (35,788)          (6,686)
    Gain on sale of assets                           (1,319)          (1,893)
    Minority interests in income of
     consolidated subsidiaries                      235,411          135,013
    Equity earnings from investments                (74,805)         (64,975)
    Distributions received from
     unconsolidated affiliates                       67,812           77,144
    Deferred income taxes                            72,884           61,919
    Stock-based compensation expense                 26,776           22,448
    Allowance for doubtful accounts                  11,668           12,574
    Inventory adjustment, net                         9,659                -
    Investment securities gains                     (11,142)               -
    Changes in assets and liabilities
     (net of acquisition and disposition effects):
    Trade accounts and notes receivable             634,361          412,471
    Gas and natural gas liquids in
     storage                                       (482,360)         (46,594)
    Accounts payable                               (210,768)         (97,254)
    Commodity exchanges and imbalances, net          (3,137)          19,311
    Unrecovered purchased gas costs                 (51,959)          11,227
    Accrued interest                                 48,736           42,488
    Energy marketing and risk management
     assets and liabilities                          49,904           70,741
    Fair value of firm commitments                 (135,826)         (38,340)
    Other assets and liabilities                    (94,873)         (30,092)
    Cash Provided by Operating Activities           478,398          949,957
    Investing Activities
    Changes in investments in unconsolidated
     affiliates                                       3,063           (5,546)
    Capital expenditures (less allowance
     for equity funds used during construction)  (1,033,063)        (527,497)
    Changes in short-term investments                     -           31,125
    Proceeds from sale of assets                      1,774            3,999
    Proceeds from insurance                           9,792                -
    Other                                             2,450                -
    Cash Used in Investing Activities            (1,015,984)        (497,919)
    Financing Activities
    Borrowing (payment) of notes payable,
     net                                          1,119,614          359,000
    Issuance of debt, net of issuance costs               -          598,146
    Payment of debt                                (412,219)         (10,403)
    Repurchase of common stock                          (29)        (390,193)
    Issuance of common stock                          7,249           11,443
    Issuance of common units, net of discounts      146,969                -
    Dividends paid                                 (120,986)        (112,842)
    Distributions to minority interests            (149,173)        (136,462)
    Other                                                 -           (5,250)
    Cash Provided by Financing Activities           591,425          313,439
    Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents              53,839          765,477
    Cash and Cash Equivalents at
     Beginning of Period                             19,105           68,268
    Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period      $72,944         $833,745



     ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
     INFORMATION AT A GLANCE
                                    Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
                                        September 30,   September 30,
    (Unaudited)                         2008    2007    2008    2007
                                (Millions of dollars, except as noted)
    ONEOK Partners
    Net margin                        $325.4  $213.9  $874.9  $636.8
    Operating costs                    $97.5   $80.1  $272.7  $237.4
    Depreciation and amortization      $30.4   $28.8   $90.4   $84.3
    Operating income                  $197.5  $105.1  $511.8  $317.1
    Natural gas gathered (BBtu/d)      1,146   1,170   1,174   1,168
    Natural gas processed (BBtu/d)       649     617     641     615
    Natural gas transported (MMcf/d)   3,500   3,378   3,637   3,524
    Natural gas sales (BBtu/d)           281     289     280     279
    Natural gas liquids gathered
     (MBbl/d)                            243     232     249     222
    Natural gas liquids sales
     (MBbl/d)                            273     223     275     221
    Natural gas liquids fractionated
     (MBbl/d)                            375     370     379     346
    Natural gas liquids transported
     (MBbl/d)                            331     225     314     219
    Capital expenditures              $335.6  $202.0  $860.2  $408.4
    Conway-to-Mount Belvieu OPIS
     average price differential
       Ethane ($/gallon)               $0.24   $0.05   $0.15   $0.05
    Natural Gas Gathering and
     Processing:
    Realized composite NGL sales
     prices ($/gallon)                 $1.51   $1.09   $1.44   $0.97
    Realized condensate sales price
     ($/Bbl)                          $99.61  $69.05  $96.91  $61.25
    Realized natural gas sales price
     ($/MMBtu)                         $8.33   $5.41   $8.39   $6.20
    Realized gross processing spread
     ($/MMBtu)                         $6.69   $5.54   $6.94   $4.56

    Distribution
    Net margin                        $123.9  $117.0  $490.6  $474.6
    Operating costs                    $97.6   $91.6  $285.6  $278.9
    Depreciation and amortization      $29.3   $26.9   $87.3   $82.1
    Operating income (loss)            $(2.9)  $(1.6) $117.7  $113.5
    Customers per employee               707     721     722     733
    Capital expenditures               $56.1   $40.2  $126.4  $108.7
    Natural gas volumes (Bcf)
    Gas Sales                           14.0    16.8   116.9   120.1
    Transportation                      50.3    48.0   163.4   148.7
    Natural gas margins
    Gas Sales                          $96.0   $92.0  $395.8  $390.0
    Transportation                     $18.1   $17.1   $64.1   $58.8

    Energy Services
    Net margin                          $4.8    $8.5   $93.9  $158.9
    Operating costs                     $9.5    $8.6   $28.0   $27.7
    Depreciation and amortization       $0.2    $0.5    $0.8    $1.6
    Operating income (loss)            $(3.5)  $(0.7)  $66.4  $129.6
    Natural gas marketed (Bcf)           261     291     867     886
    Natural gas gross margin ($/Mcf)   $0.02   $0.03   $0.08   $0.16
    Physically settled volumes (Bcf)     560     605   1,756   1,794



     ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
     CONSOLIDATING INCOME STATEMENT


                                       Three Months Ended September 30, 2008
                                              ONEOK   Consolidating
     (Unaudited)                       ONEOK Partners   Entries   Consolidated
                                                  (Millions of dollars)
    Operating Income
     ONEOK Partners                     $-     $198         $-       $198
     Distribution                       (3)       -          -         (3)
     Energy Services                    (4)       -          -         (4)
     Other                               1        -          -          1
    Operating Income                    (6)     198          -        192

    Equity in earnings of ONEOK
     Partners                          109        -       (109)         -
    Other income (expense)               6       40          -         46
    Interest expense                   (27)     (34)         -        (61)
    Minority interest                    -        -        (95)       (95)
    Income taxes                       (24)       -          -        (24)

    Net Income                         $58     $204      $(204)       $58


                                       Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008
                                              ONEOK   Consolidating
     (Unaudited)                       ONEOK Partners   Entries   Consolidated
                                                (Millions of dollars)
    Operating Income
     ONEOK Partners                     $-     $512         $-       $512
     Distribution                      118        -          -        118
     Energy Services                    66        -          -         66
     Other                               2        -          -          2
    Operating Income                   186      512          -        698

    Equity in earnings of ONEOK
     Partners                          268        -       (268)         -

    Other income (expense)               5      106          -        111
    Interest expense                   (75)    (108)         -       (183)
    Minority interest                    -        -       (235)      (235)
    Income taxes                      (140)      (7)         -       (147)

    Net Income                        $244     $503      $(503)      $244



     ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
     CONSOLIDATING INCOME STATEMENT


                                   Three Months Ended September 30, 2007
                                           ONEOK   Consolidating
    (Unaudited)               ONEOK      Partners     Entries    Consolidated
                                               (Millions of dollars)
    Operating Income
     ONEOK Partners             $-         $105           $-         $105
     Distribution               (1)           -            -           (1)
     Energy Services            (1)           -            -           (1)
     Other                       -            -            -            -
    Operating Income            (2)         105            -          103

    Equity in earnings of
     ONEOK Partners             51            -          (51)           -
    Other income (expense)       -           27            -           27
    Interest expense           (29)         (34)           -          (63)
    Minority interest            -            -          (45)         (45)
    Income taxes                (6)          (2)           -           (8)

    Net Income                 $14          $96         $(96)         $14


                                  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007
                                           ONEOK   Consolidating
    (Unaudited)               ONEOK      Partners     Entries     Consolidated
                                               (Millions of dollars)
    Operating Income
     ONEOK Partners             $-         $317           $-         $317
     Distribution              113            -            -          113
     Energy Services           130            -            -          130
     Other                       7            -            -            7
    Operating Income           250          317            -          567

    Equity in earnings of
     ONEOK Partners            152            -         (152)           -
    Other income (expense)      11           76            -           87
    Interest expense           (89)         (99)           -         (188)
    Minority interest            -            -         (135)        (135)
    Income taxes              (122)          (7)           -         (129)

    Net Income                $202         $287        $(287)        $202



     ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries
     REGULATION G GAAP RECONCILIATION
     ONEOK, Inc. Stand-Alone Cash Flow, Before Changes in Working Capital

                                                           Nine Months Ended
    (Unaudited)                                            September 30, 2008
                                                         (Millions of dollars)
    Net income                                                         $243.7
    Depreciation and amortization                                        89.0
    Gain on sale of assets                                               (1.3)
    Distributions received from unconsolidated affiliates               183.1
    Income from equity investments, net                                (268.4)
    Deferred income taxes                                                72.9
    Stock based compensation expense                                     26.8
    Allowance for doubtful accounts                                      11.7
    Inventory adjustment, net                                             9.7
    Investment securities gains                                         (11.1)
    Cash flow, before changes in working capital (a)                   $356.1

    (a)  ONEOK, Inc. stand-alone cash flow, before changes in working capital,
         is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management, industry
         analysts, investors, lenders, and rating agencies to assess the
         financial performance and the operating results of our fundamental
         business activities.  ONEOK, Inc. stand-alone cash flow, before
         changes in working capital, should not be considered in isolation or
         as a substitute for net income, income from operations, or other
         measures of cash flow.



    ONEOK, Inc. and Subsidiaries                                   Exhibit A
    EARNINGS GUIDANCE*

                                               Updated     Previous
                                                2008         2008
                                              Guidance     Guidance     Change
                               (Millions of dollars, except per share amounts)
    Operating Income
     ONEOK Partners                              $653         $624        $29
     Distribution                                 186          186          -
     Energy Services                               93          142        (49)
     Other                                         (3)          (3)         -
    Operating Income                              929          949        (20)
    Other income (expense)                        144          121         23
    Interest expense                             (266)        (273)         7
    Minority interest                            (290)        (259)       (31)
    Income taxes                                 (198)        (219)        21
    Net Income                                   $319         $319         $-

    Net Earnings Per Share, Diluted             $3.00        $3.00         $-

    Average Shares of Common Stock,
     Diluted (Millions)                           106          106          -

    Capital Expenditures
    ONEOK Partners                             $1,314       $1,314         $-
    Distribution                                  170          170          -
    Other                                          44           12         32
    Total Capital Expenditures                 $1,528       $1,496        $32

     *Amounts shown are midpoints of ranges provided.


OKE-FE

SOURCE  ONEOK, Inc.
    -0-                             11/05/2008
    /CONTACT:  Analysts, Dan Harrison, +1-918-588-7950, or Media, Megan
Washbourne, +1-918-588-7572, both of ONEOK, Inc./
    /Web site:  http://www.oneok.com
                http://www.oneokpartners.com/
    (OKE OKS)

CO:  ONEOK, Inc.
ST:  Oklahoma
IN:  OIL
SU:  ERN

KQ-JC
-- LAW029B --
6685 11/05/2008 16:10 EST http://www.prnewswire.com