	williams wmb sees flat pipeline volumes in williams cos said it expected oil and fertilizer transportation volumes to be flat in but said operating profits from the pipeline unit should improve from mln dlrs ed last year when a seven mln dlr special charge was incurred williams pipeline co took the charge against ings in for the removal of more than miles of old pipeline from service and for casualty losses companywide williams had a net loss of mln dlrs on total revenues of billion dlrs a decline from profits of mln dlrs on sales of billion in in its annual report williams said its northwest pipeline corp and williams natural gas co had natural gas costs that are among the lowest in the nation averaging dlrs and dlrs per mcf respectively last year total natural gas reserves for both units declined to billion cubic feet in from billion cubic feet the previous year the company said its williams natural gas unit which has less take or pay exposure than most major pipelines should show improvement in its operating results because of changes tariff and federal tax rates the company s gas marketing business is expected to have somewhat lower ings in because of competition in its operating region the annual report said the gas marketing unit ed mln dlrs on sales of mln dlrs last year williams also said it expected a substantial decline in its debt to equity ratio this year because of more than mln dlrs received in cash from the sale of agrico chemical co and proceeds from the sale and leaseback of williams telecommunications co the telecommunications business a mile fiber optic system for long distance use will not be profitable until late williams said reuter 
