SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS CO
8-K, 1997-09-30
NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    Form 8-K

                                 Current Report


Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of earliest event reported:  September 25, 1997


                          SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

     Delaware                     1-274                      63-0196650
     (State of                 (Commission                  (IRS Employer
   Incorporation)              File Number)               Identification No.)

AmSouth-Sonat Tower
Birmingham, Alabama                                           35203
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                    (Zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (205) 325-7410



<PAGE>


Item 5.  Other Events

On September 25, 1997, Southern Natural Gas Company (the "Company") entered into
an  Underwriting   Agreement,  in  the  form  of  Exhibit  1  hereto,  with  the
Underwriters  named therein with respect to the issue and sale by the Company of
$100,000,000  aggregate  principal amount of its 6.70% Notes due October 1, 2007
(the  "Notes"),  registered  under its  Registration  Statement on Form S-3 (No.
33-47266)  (the  "Registration  Statement").  The Notes will be issued under the
Indenture dated as of June 1, 1987,  between the Company and The Chase Manhattan
Bank, as successor by merger to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company and Chemical
Bank, as Trustee,  in the form of Exhibit 4-(1) hereto,  as  supplemented by the
First  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of September  30, 1997, in the form of
Exhibit 4-(2) hereto.

On September 15, 1997, by resolution duly adopted by written unanimous  consent,
the Board of Directors of the Company  designated and appointed John C. Griffin,
whose  address is 1900 Fifth Avenue North,  Birmingham,  Alabama  35203,  as the
Company's  agent  for  service  in all  matters  relating  to  the  Registration
Statement and any amendments thereto.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma
         Financial Information and Exhibits

The Index to Exhibits  to this Report is  incorporated  by  reference  herein by
reference.




<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES


          Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                     SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY



                                     By:    /s/  NORMAN G. HOLMES
                                            -------------------------------
                                            Name:  Norman G. Holmes.
                                            Title: Vice President and Controller

Dated:  September 29, 1997


<PAGE>


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
                                -----------------


Exhibit No.    Exhibit

1.*            Form  of  Underwriting  Agreement,   dated  September  25,  1997,
               including  Underwriting  Agreement  Standard  Provisions,   dated
               September 25, 1997,  incorporated into the Underwriting Agreement
               by reference

4-(1)          Indenture,  dated as of June 1, 1987, between the Company and The
               Chase Manhattan Bank, as successor by merger to Chemical Bank and
               Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company, as Trustee,  incorporated by
               reference herein from Exhibit 4-(1) to Registration Statement No.
               33-47266

4-(2)*         First  Supplemental  Indenture  dated as of  September  30, 1997,
               between the Company and the Trustee

4-(3)*         Form of Note

12*            Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges


- ------------

*    Filed herewith.


                                                                       EXHIBIT 1

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                             ----------------------


                                                              September 25, 1997


Southern Natural Gas Company,
  Amsouth-Sonat Tower,
    Birmingham, Alabama 35203.

Dear Sirs:

          The underwriters  named below (such  underwriters  being herein called
the  "Underwriters")  understand that Southern  Natural Gas Company,  a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"),  proposes to issue and sell $100,000,000  aggregate
principal   amount  of  6.70%  Notes  due   October  1,  2007  (the   "Purchased
Securities"),  registered on Registration Statement No. 33-47266. Subject to the
terms and conditions set forth herein and  incorporated by reference  herein and
referred to below, the Company hereby agrees to sell and the Underwriters  agree
to purchase,  severally and not jointly,  the principal amount of such Purchased
Securities set forth opposite their names at 99.241% of their principal amount.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                Principal Amount
NAME                                                               of Notes
- ----                                                           -----------------

<S>                                                             <C>         
Goldman, Sachs & Co........................................     $ 33,400,000

Chase Securities Inc.......................................       33,300,000

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.........       33,300,000
                                                                ------------
                     Total.................................     $100,000,000
                                                                ============
</TABLE>


          The Underwriters will pay for such Purchased  Securities upon delivery
thereof at the offices of Sullivan & Cromwell,  125 Broad Street,  New York, New
York at 10:00 a.m. (New York time) on September 30, 1997.



<PAGE>



          The Purchased Securities shall have the following terms:

          Maturity: October 1, 2007

          Interest Rate: 6.70%

          Redemption Provisions: Not redeemable prior to maturity.

          DefeasanceProvisions:   Subject  to  the   defeasance   and   covenant
               defeasance provisions of Article 15 of the Indenture, dated as of
               June 1, 1987,  between the Company and The Chase  Manhattan Bank,
               as successor by merger to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company, as
               Trustee.

          Interest Payment  Dates:  April 1 and October 1,  commencing  April 1,
               1998.

          Unless otherwise provided herein, all the provisions  contained in the
document entitled Southern Natural Gas Company  Underwriting  Agreement Standard
Provisions,  dated September 25, 1997, a copy of which is attached  hereto,  are
herein  incorporated  by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a
part of this  Agreement  to the same extent as if such  provisions  had been set
forth in full herein.

          All notices and  communications  hereunder to an Underwriter  shall be
given to Goldman, Sachs & Co., attention of the Registration  Statement,  at the
address set forth below.

          THIS AGREEMENT  SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE  WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.



<PAGE>



          This  Agreement  may be  executed  by any one or  more of the  parties
hereto in any  number of  counterparts,  each of which  shall be deemed to be an
original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and
the same instrument.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
                                       CHASE SECURITIES INC.
                                       MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
                                             & SMITH INCORPORATED


                                       By:
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          (Goldman, Sachs & Co.)



Accepted:

SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY


By:
    ----------------------------
    Name:
    Title:


<PAGE>



                          SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY


                                 DEBT SECURITIES

                   UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT STANDARD PROVISIONS
                                 
                                ----------------


                                                              September 25, 1997


           Southern Natural Gas Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
proposes  to issue  and sell from time to time  certain  of its debt  securities
("Debt Securities") registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities
Act") as set forth in Section 3. The Debt  Securities  are to be issued under an
indenture, dated as of June 1, 1987 as amended or supplemented from time to time
(the  "Indenture"),  between  the  Company  and The  Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  as
successor by merger to  Manufacturers  Hanover  Trust  Company,  as Trustee (the
"Trustee").

           From  time  to  time,   the  Company  may  enter  into  one  or  more
underwriting  agreements that provide for the sale of the Debt Securities to the
underwriter  or several  underwriters  named therein (the  "Underwriters").  The
standard  provisions  set forth herein may be  incorporated  by reference in any
such  underwriting  agreement (an  "Underwriting  Agreement").  The Underwriting
Agreement, including the provisions hereof incorporated therein by reference, is
herein referred to as this Agreement.

          1.  SALE AND  PURCHASE  OF THE DEBT  SECURITIES.  On the  basis of the
representations,   warranties  and  agreements  herein  contained,  the  Company
proposes  to issue and sell the Debt  Securities  in one or more  series,  which
series may vary as to their terms (including, but not limited to, interest rate,
maturity,  any redemption provisions and any sinking fund requirements),  all of
such terms for any particular  series being  determined at the time of sale. All
or a portion of a particular  series of the Debt Securities will be purchased by
the  Underwriters  for resale upon terms of offering  determined  at the time of
sale.  The  Debt  Securities  so  to be  purchased  in  any  such  offering  are
hereinafter  referred to as the  "Purchased  Securities",  and any firm or firms
acting as  representatives  of such Underwriters are hereinafter  referred to as
the  "Representatives".  If  with  respect  to  the  Purchased  Securities  such
Representatives  are acting on behalf of the Underwriters,  references herein to
the Underwriters (or a majority in interest thereof) or the  Representatives  in
the alternative shall be deemed to refer only to the  Representatives.  The term
"Underwriters'  Securities"  means  Purchased  Securities  other  than  Contract
Securities.  The term "Contract Securities" means Purchased Securities,  if any,
to be purchased pursuant to delayed delivery contracts referred to below.

           If this Agreement provides for sales of Purchased Securities pursuant
to delayed delivery contracts, the Company hereby authorizes the Underwriters to
solicit offers to purchase  Contract  Securities on the terms and subject to the

<PAGE>


conditions  set forth in the  Prospectus (as  hereinafter  defined)  pursuant to
delayed  delivery  contracts  substantially  in the form of  Schedule I attached
hereto (the "Delayed  Delivery  Contracts") but with such changes therein as the
Company may  authorize or approve.  Delayed  Delivery  Contracts  are to be with
institutional  investors  approved  by the Company and of the types set forth in
the Prospectus.  On the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined),  the Company will
pay the Underwriters the fee set forth in the Underwriting  Agreement in respect
of the principal amount of Contract  Securities.  The Underwriters will not have
any  responsibility  in respect of the  validity or the  performance  of Delayed
Delivery Contracts.

           If the Company executes and delivers Delayed Delivery  Contracts with
institutional  investors,  the Contract  Securities  shall be deducted  from the
Purchased  Securities  to be  purchased  by the  several  Underwriters  and  the
aggregate  principal  amount of  Purchased  Securities  to be  purchased by each
Underwriter  shall be reduced pro rata in proportion to the principal  amount of
Purchased   Securities  set  forth  opposite  each  Underwriter's  name  in  the
Underwriting Agreement,  except to the extent that the Representatives,  if any,
determine that such reduction shall be otherwise and so advise the Company.

           The obligations of the Underwriters  under this Agreement are several
and not joint.

          2. PAYMENT AND DELIVERY.  Delivery by the Company of the Underwriters'
Securities  and payment by the  Underwriters  therefor  by wire  transfer to the
Company's  account in  immediately  available  funds,  or, if the  Underwriters'
Securities are denominated in a currency or currencies  other than United States
Dollars,  by such other means specified in this  Agreement,  shall take place at
the office, on the date and at the time specified in this Agreement,  which date
and time may be postponed  for not more than twelve  business  days by agreement
between a majority in interest of the  Underwriters or the  Representatives  and
the Company  (such date and time of delivery  and payment for the  Underwriters'
Securities is hereinafter referred to as the "Closing Date").

           The  Underwriters'  Securities  shall be registered in such names and
shall be in such  denominations  as the  Underwriters or  Representatives  shall
request at least two full  business days (or such lesser number of days as shall
be specified in the Underwriting  Agreement) prior to the Closing Date and shall
be made  available  to the  Underwriters  or  Representatives  for  checking and
packaging at least one full business day prior to the Closing Date.

          3. REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS; PUBLIC OFFERING. The Company
has filed  with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission"),
pursuant  to the  Securities  Act and the rules and  regulations  adopted by the
Commission  thereunder  (the  "Rules"),  a  registration  statement on Form S-3,
including a prospectus,  relating to the Debt Securities,  and such registration
statement has become  effective.  The Company will file with, or mail for filing
to,  the  Commission  a  prospectus  supplement  specifically  relating  to  the
Purchased  Securities  pursuant  to Rule  424  under  the  Securities  Act  (the
"Prospectus   Supplement").   The  term   "Registration   Statement"  means  the
registration   statement,   including   financial   statements,   exhibits   and
Incorporated  Documents (as hereinafter  defined) as amended to the date of this
Agreement.  The term "Basic  Prospectus"  means the  prospectus  included in the

<PAGE>


Registration  Statement.  The  term  "Prospectus"  means  the  Basic  Prospectus
together with the Prospectus Supplement. The term "Preliminary Prospectus" means
the  Basic  Prospectus  together  with  a  preliminary   prospectus   supplement
specifically  relating to the Purchased  Securities.  As used herein,  the terms
"Registration  Statement",  "Basic  Prospectus",  "Prospectus"  and "Preliminary
Prospectus" shall include in each case all documents incorporated,  or deemed to
be incorporated, therein by reference pursuant to the requirements of Item 12 of
Form S-3  under  the  Securities  Act (the  "Incorporated  Documents"),  and any
reference herein to the terms "amend",  "amendment" or "supplement" with respect
to any of the  foregoing  documents  shall be deemed to refer to and include the
filing of any Incorporated Documents after the date of this Agreement.

           The  Company  understands  that the  Underwriters  propose  to make a
public offering of the Purchased Securities, as set forth in and pursuant to the
Prospectus  relating thereto.  The Company hereby confirms that the Underwriters
and any dealers  selected by them are authorized to distribute  such  Prospectus
(as from time to time further amended or  supplemented if the Company  furnishes
amendments  or  supplements  thereto  to the  Underwriters  in  addition  to the
Prospectus Supplement).

          4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Company represents and warrants
to each Underwriter that:

               (a) The Company  meets the  requirements  for the use of Form S-3
          under the Securities Act.

               (b) The Registration  Statement, at the time it became effective,
          and the Prospectus contained therein, complied, and on the date of the
          Prospectus  Supplement  and when  any  amendment  to the  Registration
          Statement  becomes  effective or any  supplement to the  Prospectus is
          filed with the Commission,  the Registration Statement, the Prospectus
          and any such amendment or supplement, respectively, will comply, fully
          in all material  respects with the  requirements of the Securities Act
          and the Rules; the Incorporated Documents comply and will comply fully
          in all  material  respects  with the  requirements  of the  Securities
          Exchange  Act  of  1934  (the  "Exchange   Act")  and  the  rules  and
          regulations  adopted  by  the  Commission  thereunder;  the  Indenture
          complies  and will  comply  fully in all  material  respects  with the
          requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Trust  Indenture
          Act");  and at the date of the Prospectus  Supplement,  at the date of
          any further  amendment to the Registration  Statement or supplement to
          the Prospectus and at the Closing Date, the Registration Statement and
          Prospectus 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,  except that
          this  representation  and warranty does not apply to (i) statements or
          omissions  in  the   Registration   Statement  or  Prospectus  (or  in
          amendments or supplements  thereto) made in reliance upon  information
          furnished  in  writing  to  the  Company  by  any  Underwriter  or the
          Representatives  on  behalf  of  any  Underwriter  expressly  for  use
          therein;  or (ii) that part of the Registration  Statement which shall
          constitute the Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee under the Trust
          Indenture  Act on Form T-1,  except  statements  or  omissions in such
          Statement  made in reliance upon  information  furnished in writing to
          the Trustee on behalf of the Company for use therein.

<PAGE>


               (c)  The  certificate  delivered  pursuant  to  paragraph  (d) of
          Section  5 hereof  in  connection  with the  issuance  and sale of the
          Underwriters'  Securities  will  be,  on  the  date  on  which  it  is
          delivered, in all material respects true and complete.

          5. CONDITIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of the
Underwriters hereunder to purchase and pay for the Underwriters'  Securities are
subject to the following conditions:

               (a) No order  suspending the  effectiveness  of the  Registration
          Statement shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall
          be pending  before or threatened by the Commission and any request for
          additional  information  on the part of the Commission (to be included
          in the  Registration  Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise)  shall
          have  been  complied  with  to  the  reasonable  satisfaction  of  the
          Underwriters or the Representatives.

               (b)  Subsequent  to the  execution of this  Agreement,  (i) there
          shall not have been any change in the capital  stock or long term debt
          of the  Company and its  subsidiaries,  (ii) there shall not have been
          any change on a consolidated basis in the general affairs, management,
          financial  position  or results of  operations  of the Company and its
          subsidiaries   taken  as  a  whole,   whether  or  not  arising   from
          transactions  in the ordinary  course of business,  in each case other
          than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement and
          Prospectus,  (iii) the  Company  and its  subsidiaries  shall not have
          sustained any material loss or interference  with their business taken
          as a whole from fire, explosion,  flood or other calamity,  whether or
          not covered by  insurance,  or from any labor  dispute or any court or
          legislative or other governmental  action,  order or decree,  which is
          not set forth in the  Registration  Statement and Prospectus,  (iv) no
          downgrading  shall have occurred in the rating  accorded the Company's
          debt securities by Standard & Poor's  Corporation or Moody's Investors
          Service, Inc. and (v) if the Underwriters'  Securities are denominated
          in a currency or currencies  other than United States  Dollars,  there
          shall not have  occurred any action by any  governmental  authority or
          any change involving currency exchange rates or exchange controls,  if
          in  the  reasonable   judgment  of  a  majority  in  interest  of  the
          Underwriters or the Representatives  any such development  referred to
          in clause (i), (ii),  (iii), (iv) or (v) is so material and adverse as
          to make it  impracticable  or  inadvisable  to consummate the sale and
          delivery  of  the  Underwriters'  Securities  by the  Underwriters  as
          contemplated in the Prospectus.

               (c) The  representations  and warranties of the Company contained
          herein shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date and the
          Company  shall have  performed all  covenants  and  agreements  herein
          contained to be performed on its part at or prior to the Closing Date.

               (d) The Underwriters or the  Representatives  shall have received
          on the Closing  Date a  certificate,  dated the Closing  Date,  of the
          Chairman of the Board,  the Vice Chairman of the Board, the President,
          any Vice  President or the Treasurer and the chief  financial or chief
          accounting  officer of the  Company,  which shall  certify that (i) no

<PAGE>


          order suspending the  effectiveness  of the Registration  Statement or
          prohibiting  the sale of the Purchased  Securities has been issued and
          no  proceedings  for  such  purpose  are  pending  before  or,  to the
          knowledge of such officers,  threatened by the Commission and (ii) the
          representations  and  warranties of the Company  contained  herein are
          true and  correct on and as of the  Closing  Date and the  Company has
          performed  all  covenants  and  agreements   herein  contained  to  be
          performed on its part at or prior to the Closing Date.

               (e)  Within 24 hours  after  the  execution  of the  Underwriting
          Agreement  by the  Company  (or at such later time  acceptable  to the
          Representatives,  or if there are none, such firm as may be designated
          by a majority  in  interest  of the  Underwriters)  and on the Closing
          Date, the  Representatives or such designated firm shall have received
          signed letters from Ernst & Young, dated the date of delivery,  (i) in
          the case of the first  such  letter,  substantially  identical  to the
          proposed   form   of  such   letter   previously   delivered   to  the
          Representatives  or such designated  firm; and (ii) in the case of the
          second such letter, confirming, on the basis of a review in accordance
          with the procedures  set forth in the first such letter,  that nothing
          has come to their attention from the date of the most recent financial
          statements  of the  Company  filed  with the  Commission,  audited  or
          interim, as the case may be, to a date not more than six days prior to
          the  Closing  Date which  would  require  any change in the first such
          letter if it were  required to be dated and  delivered  on the Closing
          Date, except in each case as described in the second such letter.

               (f) The Underwriters or the  Representatives  shall have received
          on the Closing Date from Hughes  Hubbard & Reed LLP an opinion,  dated
          the Closing Date, substantially identical to the form of their opinion
          attached hereto as Annex A.

               (g) The Underwriters or the  Representatives  shall have received
          on the  Closing  Date  from  Sullivan  &  Cromwell,  counsel  for  the
          Underwriters,  opinions  dated the Closing  Date,  with respect to the
          Company, the Underwriters' Securities,  the Registration Statement and
          Prospectus and this Agreement.  Such opinions shall be satisfactory in
          all  respects  to the  Underwriters  or the  Representatives,  and the
          Company  shall have  furnished  to counsel for the  Underwriters  such
          documents as they may  reasonably  request for the purpose of enabling
          them to render such opinions.

               (h)  Subsequent  to execution of this  Agreement  there shall not
          have  occurred  any of the  following:  (x) a  suspension  or material
          limitation  in trading in  securities  generally on the New York Stock
          Exchange or (y) a general  moratorium on commercial banking activities
          in New York declared by either Federal or New York State authorities.

               (i) The  Company  shall  have  complied  with the  provisions  of
          Section 6(d) hereof with respect to the furnishing of  prospectuses on
          the New York business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement.

          6. COVENANTS. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

               (a) To advise the Underwriters or the Representatives promptly of
          any amendment or supplementation of the Registration  Statement or the

<PAGE>


          Prospectus  (excluding the filing of Incorporated  Documents) prior to
          the termination of the distribution of the  Underwriters'  Securities,
          to furnish the Underwriters or the Representatives with a copy of such
          amendment or  supplementation,  and not to file any such  amendment or
          supplementation to which a majority in interest of the Underwriters or
          the Representatives shall reasonably object.

               (b) As soon as the  Company  is  advised  thereof,  to advise the
          Underwriters  or  the   Representatives   (i)  of  the  initiation  or
          threatening by the Commission of any  proceedings  for the issuance of
          any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration  Statement,
          or the  qualification  of the  Indenture,  and (ii) of  receipt by the
          Company or any  representative or attorney of the Company of any other
          communication  from  the  Commission  relating  to  the  Company,  the
          Registration Statement,  any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus.
          The Company will make every reasonable  effort to prevent the issuance
          of an order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
          or the  qualification of the Indenture and if any such order is issued
          to obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof.

               (c)  To  deliver,   without  charge,   to  the  counsel  for  the
          Underwriters,  three  signed  copies  of the  registration  statement,
          including  exhibits and Incorporated  Documents,  relating to the Debt
          Securities  in the  form it  became  effective  and of all  amendments
          thereto, including exhibits.

               (d) Prior to 10:00 a.m.,  New York City time, on the business day
          next succeeding the date of the Underwriting Agreement, to furnish the
          Underwriters  with copies of the  Prospectus  in New York City in such
          quantities as the Representatives  may reasonably request,  and during
          such period as a  prospectus  is required  by law to be  delivered  in
          connection  with sales of Purchased  Securities by an  Underwriter  or
          dealer,  to  deliver to the  Representatives  or to  Underwriters  and
          dealers,  at  such  office  or  offices  as  the  Underwriters  or the
          Representatives  may  designate,  as  many  conformed  copies  of  the
          Indenture,   the  Registration   Statement   (excluding  exhibits  but
          including the Incorporated  Documents),  each Preliminary  Prospectus,
          the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents as
          the Underwriters or the Representatives may reasonably request.

               (e) During the period in which copies of the Prospectus are to be
          delivered as provided in paragraph (d) above, if any event occurs as a
          result  of  which it shall be  necessary  to amend or  supplement  the
          Prospectus in order to make the  statements  therein not misleading or
          to file any document which will be deemed an Incorporated  Document in
          order to comply with the  Exchange  Act and the rules and  regulations
          thereunder,  forthwith  (at its own  expense,  if such  supplement  or
          amendment  is  required  at any time within nine months from the first
          date upon which Purchased  Securities to which such Prospectus relates
          are  offered to the  public) to prepare  and file with the  Commission
          either (i)  amendments or  supplements  to the  Prospectus so that the
          statements in the Prospectus, as so amended or supplemented,  will not
          be misleading  or (ii)  documents  which will effect such  compliance.
          Delivery by  Underwriters of any such amendments or supplements to the

<PAGE>


          Prospectus  or documents  shall not  constitute a waiver of any of the
          conditions set forth in Section 5 hereof.  In case any  Underwriter is
          required to deliver a  Prospectus  nine months or more after the first
          date upon which the  Purchased  Securities  to which  such  Prospectus
          relates are offered to the public,  the Company will, upon the request
          of such Underwriter or the  Representatives but at the expense of such
          Underwriter,  furnish such Underwriter  with reasonable  quantities of
          prospectuses  complying with Section  10(a)(3) of the Securities  Act.
          The  Underwriters  agree  to  use  the  Prospectus,   as  amended  and
          supplemented from time to time, in lieu of the Prospectus  theretofore
          in effect.

               (f)  To  make  generally  available  to  the  Company's  security
          holders,  as soon as  practicable,  but in no event later than 45 days
          after  the  end of the  12-month  period  beginning  at the end of the
          Company's  fiscal  quarter  during which the filing of the  Prospectus
          pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act occurs (except not later
          than 95 days if such  filing date is in the  quarter  ending  December
          31), an earning  statement  which  satisfies the provisions of Section
          11(a) of the Securities Act.

               (g)  To   take   such   action   as  the   Underwriters   or  the
          Representatives  may  reasonably  request  in  order  to  qualify  the
          Purchased  Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue
          sky"  laws  of  such   jurisdictions   as  the   Underwriters  or  the
          Representatives  may  reasonably  request;  provided  that in no event
          shall the  Company  be  obligated  to qualify  to do  business  in any
          jurisdiction  where it is not now so  qualified  or to take any action
          which  would  subject it to  service  of process in suits,  other than
          those arising out of the offering or sale of the Purchased Securities,
          in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

               (h)  During  the  period  of five  years  from  the  date of this
          Agreement, to supply to the Representatives, if any, and to each other
          Underwriter  who may so request in  writing,  a copy of each annual or
          other report it shall be required to file with the Commission.

               (i) To pay,  or  reimburse  if paid  by the  Underwriters  or the
          Representatives,  whether or not the transactions  contemplated hereby
          are consummated or this Agreement is terminated,  all reasonable costs
          and expenses  incident to the  performance  of the  obligations of the
          Company  under this  Agreement,  including  those  relating to (i) the
          preparation,  printing and filing of the  Registration  Statement  and
          exhibits thereto,  each Preliminary  Prospectus,  the Prospectus,  all
          amendments  and  supplements  to the  Registration  Statement  and the
          Prospectus  (except as  provided  in  paragraph  (e)  above),  and the
          printing of the Underwriting Agreements (including the Agreement Among
          Underwriters,  if any, and the Agreements With Dealers,  if any), (ii)
          the  issuance of the  Purchased  Securities  and the  preparation  and
          delivery  of  certificates   for  the  Purchased   Securities  to  the
          Underwriters, (iii) the registration or qualification of the Purchased
          Securities  for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws
          of the  various  jurisdictions  referred  to in  paragraph  (g) above,
          including the fees and  disbursements  of counsel for the Underwriters
          in  connection   therewith  and  the   preparation   and  printing  of
          

<PAGE>


          preliminary or supplementary "blue sky" memoranda and legal investment
          memoranda, (iv) the furnishing to the Representatives, if any, and the
          Underwriters of copies of each Preliminary Prospectus,  the Prospectus
          and  all  amendments  or  supplements  to the  Prospectus  (except  as
          provided  in  paragraph  (e)  above),  and  of the  several  documents
          required  by this  Section 6 to be so  furnished,  including  costs of
          shipping  and  mailing,  (v) the  listing,  if any,  of the  Purchased
          Securities  on any  national  securities  exchange,  (vi)  the  filing
          requirements of the National Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc.,
          in  connection  with its  review of  corporate  financings,  (vii) the
          rating of the Purchased Securities by rating agencies,  and (viii) the
          furnishing to the Representatives,  if any, and to the Underwriters of
          copies of all reports and information required by paragraph (h) above,
          including costs of shipping and mailing;  but the Company shall not in
          any event be liable to any of the several  Underwriters for damages on
          account of loss of  anticipated  profits  from the sale by them of the
          Purchased Securities.

               (j) To endeavor to obtain as promptly as practicable  the listing
          of the  Purchased  Securities  on  the  national  securities  exchange
          designated in the  Underwriting  Agreement if any such  designation is
          made.

               (k) To prepare  the  Prospectus  as amended and  supplemented  in
          relation to the applicable  Purchased Securities in a form approved by
          the  Underwriters or the  Representatives  and to file (or transmit by
          means  reasonably  calculated  to result in  filing)  such  Prospectus
          pursuant to Rule 424(b)  under the  Securities  Act not later than the
          Commission's  close of business on the second  business day  following
          the execution and delivery of this Agreement or, if  applicable,  such
          earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b).

               (l) As soon as the  Company  is  advised  thereof,  to advise the
          Underwriters of any suspension of the  qualification  of the Purchased
          Securities for offering or sale in any  jurisdiction or the initiation
          or threatening  of any  proceeding  for any such purpose.  The Company
          will make every reasonable  effort to prevent the issuance of an order
          suspending the  effectiveness  of the  qualification  of the Purchased
          Securities  for  offering or sale,  and if any such order is issued to
          obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof.

          7. INDEMNIFICATION.

               (a) The  Company  agrees  to  indemnify  and hold  harmless  each
          Underwriter  and each person,  if any,  who  controls any  Underwriter
          within the meaning of Section 15 of the  Securities  Act or Section 20
          of the  Exchange Act against any and all losses,  claims,  damages and
          liabilities, joint or several (including any investigation,  legal and
          other expenses  reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount
          paid in  settlement  of, any action,  suit or  proceeding or any claim
          asserted), to which they, or any of them, may become subject under the
          Securities  Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state  statutory
          law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
          claims,  damages  or  liabilities  arise out of or are based  upon any
          untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact
          contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or



<PAGE>


          the  Prospectus,  or  any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto,  or the
          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 any such untrue statement or omission or
          alleged untrue  statement or omission was made in (i) such Preliminary
          Prospectus,  the  Registration  Statement or the  Prospectus,  or such
          amendment  or  supplement,  in reliance  upon and in  conformity  with
          information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any
          Underwriter  expressly for use in the preparation thereof or (ii) that
          part of the Registration  Statement which constitutes the Statement of
          Eligibility and Qualification of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture
          Act other than any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
          statement or omission  made therein in reliance upon and in conformity
          with  information  furnished in writing to the Trustee by or on behalf
          of the Company for use in the preparation thereof; provided,  however,
          that the foregoing indemnity agreement against losses, claims, damages
          or liabilities is subject to the condition that, insofar as it relates
          to any untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue  statement,  omission  or
          alleged omission made in the Registration Statement or any Preliminary
          Prospectus but eliminated or remedied in the Prospectus (not including
          Incorporated  Documents),  such indemnity agreement shall not inure to
          the  benefit of any  Underwriter  from whom the person  asserting  any
          loss,   claim,   damage  or  liability   purchased  the  Underwriters'
          Securities  which are the  subject  thereof  (or to the benefit of any
          person who controls such  Underwriter) if such  Underwriter  failed to
          send or  give a copy of the  Prospectus  (not  including  Incorporated
          Documents)  (or,  if  the  Prospectus   (not  including   Incorporated
          Documents)  has been amended or  supplemented  in the manner and under
          the  circumstances  specified in the next following proviso clause and
          copies thereof have  previously  been furnished by or on behalf of the
          Company  to such  Underwriter,  then  the  Prospectus  (not  including
          Incorporated  Documents) as so amended or supplemented) to such person
          at or prior to the time such action is required by the Securities Act;
          provided  further,  that the  foregoing  indemnity  agreement  is also
          subject  to the  condition  that,  insofar as it relates to any untrue
          statement or alleged untrue  statement,  omission or alleged  omission
          made in the  Prospectus  attributable  solely to facts or events which
          occur  after the date of this  Agreement  which  untrue  statement  or
          alleged untrue  statement,  omission or alleged omission is eliminated
          or remedied in an  amendment  or  supplement  to the  Prospectus  (not
          including Incorporated Documents),  such indemnity agreement shall not
          inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting
          any loss,  claim,  damage or  liability  purchased  the  Underwriters'
          Securities  which are subject thereof (or to the benefit of any person
          who controls such Underwriter), if such Underwriter, having previously
          been  furnished  by or on behalf  of the  Company  with  copies of the
          Prospectus  (not  including  Incorporated  Documents) as so amended or
          supplemented,  in lieu thereof delivered to such person the Prospectus
          (not  including  Incorporated  Documents)  without  such  amendment or
          supplement.

               (b) Each  Underwriter  agrees to indemnify  and hold harmless the
          Company,  each person,  if any,  who  controls the Company  within the
          meaning  of  Section  15 of the  Securities  Act or  Section 20 of the
          Exchange  Act,  each  director of the Company and each  officer of the
          Company who signs the Registration Statement to the same extent as the
          foregoing  indemnity  from the Company to each  Underwriter,  but only

<PAGE>


          insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of or
          are based upon any untrue  statement  or  omission  or alleged  untrue
          statement or omission  which was made in any  Preliminary  Prospectus,
          the  Registration  Statement or the  Prospectus,  or any  amendment or
          supplement   thereto,   in  reliance  upon  and  in  conformity   with
          information  furnished  in writing to the Company by such  Underwriter
          expressly for use in the preparation thereof.

               (c)  Any  party  which   proposes  to  assert  the  right  to  be
          indemnified  under  this  Section 7 will,  promptly  after  receipt of
          notice of commencement of any action,  suit or proceeding against such
          party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnified
          party under this Section 7, notify each such indemnifying party of the
          commencement of such action,  suit or proceeding,  enclosing a copy of
          all papers  served,  but the  omission so to notify such  indemnifying
          party of any such action, suit or proceeding shall not relieve it from
          any liability  which it may have to any  indemnified  party  otherwise
          than under this Section 7. In case any such action, suit or proceeding
          shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the
          indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party
          shall be entitled to participate  in, and, to the extent that it shall
          wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to
          assume  the  defense  thereof,   with  counsel  satisfactory  to  such
          indemnified  party,  and after notice from the  indemnifying  party to
          such  indemnified  party of its  election  so to  assume  the  defense
          thereof,   the  indemnifying   party  shall  not  be  liable  to  such
          indemnified  party  for  any  legal  or  other  expenses,  other  than
          reasonable  costs  of  investigation  subsequently  incurred  by  such
          indemnified  party  in  connection  with  the  defense  thereof.   The
          indemnified  party  shall have the right to employ its  counsel in any
          such action, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
          expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of counsel
          by such  indemnified  party has been  authorized  by the  indemnifying
          parties,  (ii) the indemnified  party shall have reasonably  concluded
          that there may be a conflict  of  interest  between  the  indemnifying
          parties  and the  indemnified  party in the  conduct of the defense of
          such action (in which case the indemnifying parties shall not have the
          right  to  direct  the  defense  of  such  action  on  behalf  of  the
          indemnified party) or (iii) the indemnifying parties shall not in fact
          have  employed  counsel  to assume  the  defense  of such  action.  An
          indemnifying  party  shall not be  liable  for any  settlement  of any
          action or claim  effected  without its  consent.  For the  purposes of
          clause (ii) of the preceding  sentence only, any indemnified  party or
          parties shall be  represented by one counsel whom they may select with
          the  approval,  which  shall  not  be  unreasonably  withheld,  of the
          indemnifying parties.

          8.   CONTRIBUTION.   In  order  to  provide  for  just  and  equitable
contribution  in  circumstances  in which the  indemnification  provided  for in
Section 7 is applicable  but for any reason,  other than as specified in Section
7, is held to be unavailable from the indemnifying party, then each indemnifying
party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified  party,  contribute to the
aggregate losses,  claims, damages and liabilities (including any investigation,
legal and other expenses  reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount
paid in settlement of, any action,  suit or proceeding or any claims  asserted),
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative  benefits  received
by the  Company  on the one  hand and the  Underwriters  on the  other  from the
offering of Purchased  Securities.  If however,  the allocation  provided by the

<PAGE>


immediately  preceding  sentence is not permitted by  applicable  law, then each
indemnifying  party  shall  contribute  to such  amount  paid or payable by such
indemnified  party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and
the  Underwriters  on the other in connection  with the  statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities  (or actions in
respect thereof),  as well as any other relevant equitable  considerations.  The
relative  benefits  received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters
on the  other  shall be  deemed  to be in the same  proportion  as the total net
proceeds from the offering of Purchased  Securities (before deducting  expenses)
received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions
received by the Underwriters,  in each case as set forth in the Prospectus.  The
relative fault 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  on the one  hand or the  Underwriters  on the  other  and the  parties'
relative intent, knowledge,  access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission.  The Company and the Underwriters agree that
it would not be just and equitable if  contributions  pursuant to this Section 8
were determined by PRO RATA allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as
one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not
take account of the equitable  considerations  referred to above in this Section
8.  Notwithstanding  the  provisions of this Section 8, (i) in no case shall any
Underwriter (except as may be provided in the Agreements Among Underwriters,  if
any) be  responsible  for any  amount in  excess of the sum of the  underwriting
discount   applicable  to  the  Underwriters'   Securities   purchased  by  such
Underwriter hereunder and commissions received for sales of Contract Securities,
if any, and (ii) no person  guilty of fraudulent  misrepresentation  (within the
meaning  of  Section  11(f)  of  the  Securities   Act)  shall  be  entitled  to
contribution   from  any  person   who  was  not   guilty  of  such   fraudulent
misrepresentation.  For  purposes of this  Section 8, each  person,  if any, who
controls  an  Underwriter  within  the  meaning  of the  Securities  Act and the
Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and
each  person,  if any,  who  controls  the  Company  within  the  meaning of the
Securities  Act and the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have
signed the  Registration  Statement  and each director of the Company shall have
the same rights to contribution as the Company,  subject in each case to clauses
(i) and (ii) of this  Section  8.  Any  party  entitled  to  contribution  will,
promptly  after  receipt  of  notice  of  commencement  of any  action,  suit or
proceeding  against such party in respect of which a claim for  contribution may
be made against another party or parties under this Section 8, notify such party
or parties from whom  contribution may be sought,  but the omission so to notify
such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought shall not relieve the
party or parties from whom  contribution may be sought from any other obligation
it or they may have  hereunder or otherwise  than under this Section 8. No party
shall be liable for  contribution  with  respect to any action or claim  settled
without its written consent.  The  Underwriters'  obligations in this section to
contribute  are several in proportion to their  respective  obligations  and not
joint.

          9.   TERMINATION.   This   Agreement   may   be   terminated   by  the
Representatives  or by Underwriters who have agreed to purchase in the aggregate
at  least  50% of  the  principal  amount  of the  Underwriters'  Securities  by
notifying the Company at any time

<PAGE>


               (a) at or prior to the  Closing  Date if, in the  judgment of the
          Representatives or in the judgment of such  Underwriters,  as the case
          may be,  payment for and delivery of the  Underwriters'  Securities is
          rendered impracticable or inadvisable because (i) any event shall have
          occurred  or shall  exist  which  makes  untrue  or  incorrect  in any
          material  respect  any  statement  or  information  contained  in  the
          Registration  Statement or Prospectus or which is not reflected in the
          Registration  Statement or Prospectus but should be reflected  therein
          in order to make the statements or information  contained  therein not
          misleading in any material  respect,  or (ii) the  declaration  by the
          United States of a national  emergency or war shall have occurred,  or
          there shall have  occurred an outbreak or  escalation  of  hostilities
          involving  the United  States to such an extent as, in the judgment of
          the Underwriters, to affect materially and adversely the marketability
          of the Underwriters' Securities; or

               (b) at or prior to the  Closing  Date,  if any of the  conditions
          specified in Section 5 hereof shall not have been  fulfilled  when and
          as required by this Agreement.

          If this  Agreement  is  terminated  pursuant to any of the  provisions
hereof,  except as otherwise  provided in Sections  6(i),  7 and 10 hereof,  the
Company shall not be under any liability to any  Underwriter  and no Underwriter
shall be under any liability to the Company,  except that (a) if this  Agreement
is terminated by the Representatives or the Underwriters  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, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters
for all their  reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses up to $20,000  (including the
fees and  disbursements  of their counsel) and (b) no Underwriter who shall have
failed  or  refused  to  purchase  the  Underwriters'  Securities  agreed  to be
purchased by it hereunder,  without some reason sufficient  hereunder to justify
its cancellation or termination of its obligations hereunder,  shall be relieved
of liability to the Company or to the other  Underwriters for damages occasioned
by its default.

          10.  SUBSTITUTION OF UNDERWRITERS.  If one or more of the Underwriters
shall fail (other than for a reason  sufficient  to justify the  termination  of
this  Agreement)  to purchase on the Closing Date the  Underwriters'  Securities
agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters on such Closing Date,
the  Representatives  or, if there are none, such firm as may be designated by a
majority  in  interest  of the  Underwriters,  may find  one or more  substitute
underwriters  to  purchase  such  Underwriters'  Securities,  or make such other
arrangements  as  they  may  deem  advisable  or one or  more  of the  remaining
Underwriters  may  agree  to  purchase  such  Underwriters'  Securities  in such
proportions as may be approved by the  Representatives  or such designated firm,
in each case upon the terms herein set forth. If no such  arrangements have been
made within 24 hours after the Closing Date, and

               (a) the aggregate principal amount of Underwriters' Securities to
          be purchased by the defaulting  Underwriters on the Closing Date shall
          not  exceed  10%  of  the  total  principal  amount  of  Underwriters'
          Securities  that the  Underwriters  are  obligated  to purchase on the
          Closing  Date,  each  of  the  nondefaulting   Underwriters  shall  be
          obligated  to  purchase  such  Underwriters'  Securities  on the terms
          herein  set  forth  in  proportion  to  their  respective  obligations
          hereunder; or


<PAGE>

               (b) the aggregate principal amount of Underwriters' Securities to
          be purchased by the defaulting  Underwriters on the Closing Date shall
          exceed 10% of the total principal amount of  Underwriters'  Securities
          that the  Underwriters  are obligated to purchase on the Closing Date,
          the  Company  shall be entitled  to an  additional  period of 24 hours
          within which to find one or more substitute underwriters  satisfactory
          to the  Representatives  or such  designated  firm,  to purchase  such
          Underwriters' Securities upon the terms set forth herein.

          In any such case, either the  Representatives  or such designated firm
or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a period of
not  more  than  five  business  days  in  order  that  necessary   changes  and
arrangements may be effected. If neither the non-defaulting Underwriters nor the
Company shall make arrangements pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 10 within
the period stated for the purchase of the  Underwriters'  Securities  which such
defaulting  Underwriters  agreed to purchase,  this  Agreement  shall  terminate
without liability on the part of any  non-defaulting  Underwriter to the Company
and without  liability on the part of the  Company,  except,  in both cases,  as
provided in Section 7, 8 and 9 hereof.  The  provisions of this Section 10 shall
not in any way affect the liability of any defaulting Underwriter to the Company
or the non-defaulting Underwriters arising out of such default.

          11.  MISCELLANEOUS.  The representations,  warranties and covenants of
the Company in this Agreement  shall remain in full force and effect  regardless
of (a) any investigation  made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling
person or by or on behalf of the Company or any controlling person,  director or
officer, and (b) delivery of and payment for the Purchased Securities under this
Agreement.   The  indemnification  and  reimbursement  agreements  contained  in
Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall remain in full force and effect  regardless of any
termination of this Agreement.

          This  Agreement  has been and is made  solely  for the  benefit of the
Underwriters and the Company, and their respective  successors and assigns, and,
to the extent expressed  herein,  for the benefit of persons  controlling any of
the Underwriters or the Company, directors and officers of the Company and their
respective successors and assigns, and no other person, partnership, association
or  corporation  shall  acquire  or have any  right  under or by  virtue of this
Agreement.  The term "successors and assigns" shall not include any purchaser of
Purchased Securities from any Underwriter merely because of such purchase.

          In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives,  if designated,  shall
act on behalf  of each of the  Underwriters,  and the  parties  hereto  shall be
entitled to act and rely upon any  statement,  request,  notice or  agreement on
behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such firm as the  Representatives may
designate to the Company.


<PAGE>

          Except as  otherwise  provided  in this  Agreement,  all  notices  and
communications  hereunder  shall be in writing  and mailed or  delivered,  or by
telephone or telegraph if subsequently confirmed in writing, to the Underwriters
at their  addresses  furnished to the Company in writing,  and to the Company at
1900  Fifth  Avenue  North,  AmSouth-Sonat  Tower,  Birmingham,  Alabama  35203,
Attention: General Counsel.

          THIS AGREEMENT  SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE  WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.


<PAGE>


                                                                      SCHEDULE I

                            DELAYED DELIVERY CONTRACT



                                                                __________, 19__


Dear Sirs:

          The  undersigned  hereby agrees to purchase from Southern  Natural Gas
Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),  and the Company agrees to sell
to the undersigned

                                        $

principal  amount of the  Company's  [state title of issue] (the  "Securities"),
offered by the Company's Prospectus dated , 19__ and Prospectus Supplement dated
, 19__, receipt of copies of which is hereby  acknowledged,  at a purchase price
of % of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest and amortization,  if
any, and on the further terms and  conditions  set forth in this  contract.  The
undersigned  does not  contemplate  selling  Securities  prior to making payment
therefor.

          The  undersigned  will  purchase  from the Company  Securities  in the
principal amounts and on the delivery dates set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           PLUS ACCRUED
                                                           INTEREST AND
                                                           AMORTIZATION,
         DELIVERY DATE        PRINCIPAL AMOUNT             IF ANY, FROM:
         -------------        ----------------             -------------
         <S>                  <C>                          <C>
                              $
                              $
                              $
</TABLE>

Each such date on which Securities are to be purchased  hereunder is hereinafter
referred to as a "Delivery Date".

          Payment  for the  Securities  which  the  undersigned  has  agreed  to
purchase  on each  Delivery  Date shall be made to the  Company or its order [by
certified or official bank check in immediately available funds at the office of
                         , New York, New York, at 10:00 a.m. (New York time)  on
the Delivery Date] [state means of payment if the Securities are  denominated in
a currency or currencies other than United States Dollars], upon delivery to the
undersigned of the Securities to be purchased by the undersigned on the Delivery
Date, in such  denominations and registered in such names as the undersigned may
designate by written or telegraphic  communication  addressed to the Company not
less than five full business days prior to the Delivery Date. If no such request

<PAGE>


is received,  the Securities  will be registered in the name of the  undersigned
and  issued  in a  denomination  equal  to the  aggregate  principal  amount  of
Securities to be purchased by the Delivery Date.

          The obligation of the undersigned to take delivery of and make payment
for the Securities on the Delivery Date shall be subject to the conditions  that
(1) the purchase of  Securities to be made by the  undersigned  shall not at the
time of delivery be prohibited  under the laws of the  jurisdiction to which the
undersigned  is subject and (2) the Company shall have sold,  and delivery shall
have  taken  place  to  the  underwriters  (the  "Underwriters")  named  in  the
Prospectus Supplement referred to above, of such part of the Securities as is to
be  sold  to  them.  Promptly  after  completion  of sale  and  delivery  to the
Underwriters, the Company will mail or deliver to the undersigned at its address
set forth below notice to such effect,  accompanied  by a copy of the opinion of
counsel for the Company  delivered to the Underwriters in connection  therewith.
The  undersigned  represents  and  warrants  to you that its  investment  in the
Securities  is not,  as of the date  hereof,  prohibited  under  the laws of any
jurisdiction  to  which  the  undersigned  is  subject  and  which  govern  such
investment.

          Failure to take  delivery of and make  payment for  securities  by any
purchaser  under any other  Delayed  Delivery  Contract  shall not  relieve  the
undersigned of its obligations under this contract.

          This  contract  will inure to the  benefit of and be binding  upon the
parties hereto and their  respective  successors,  but will not be assignable by
either party hereto without the written consent of the other.

          It is  understood  that  acceptance of this contract and other similar
contracts  is in  the  Company's  sole  discretion  and,  without  limiting  the
foregoing, need not be on a first come, first-served basis.

          If this contract is acceptable  to the Company,  it is requested  that
the  Company  sign the form of  acceptance  below and mail or deliver one of the
counterparts hereof to the undersigned at its address set forth below. This will
become a binding  contract,  as of the date first  above  written,  between  the
Company and the undersigned when such counterpart is so mailed or delivered.


<PAGE>


          This contract  shall be governed by and  construed in accordance  with
the laws of the State of NEW YORK.

           Yours very truly,



                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        (PURCHASER)


                                        By--------------------------------------


                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        (TITLE)


                                        ----------------------------------------


                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        (ADDRESS)


Accepted:

SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY


By---------------------------

- -----------------------------
(TITLE)


- -----------------------------

- -----------------------------
(ADDRESS)


PURCHASER -- PLEASE COMPLETE AT TIME OF SIGNING

          The name and telephone and  department  of the  representative  of the
Purchaser with whom details of delivery on the Delivery Date may be discussed is
as follows: (Please print.)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   TELEPHONE NUMBER
          NAME                   (INCLUDING AREA CODE)                   DEPT.
          ----                   ---------------------                   -----
          <S>                    <C>                                     <C>

</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                                     ANNEX A

Pursuant  to Section  5(f) of the  Southern  Natural  Gas  Company  Underwriting
Agreement  Standard  Provisions,  Hughes  Hubbard  & Reed LLP shall  furnish  an
opinion with respect to the Federal laws of the United  States,  the laws of the
State of New York and the  General  Corporation  Law of the State of Delaware to
the effect that:

          (i) The Company  was duly  incorporated  and is validly  existing as a
corporation  in good  standing  under  the laws of the State of  Delaware,  with
corporate power under the General  Corporation Law of such State to carry on the
business in which it is now engaged, as described in the Prospectus.

          (ii) The Company is duly  qualified  as a foreign  corporation  in the
States of Alabama, Florida,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  South Carolina,
Tennessee and Texas.

          (iii) The Indenture has been duly  authorized,  executed and delivered
by the Company,  has been duly qualified  under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as amended, and, assuming the due authorization,  execution and delivery thereof
by the  Trustee,  constitutes  a valid and binding  agreement  of the Company in
accordance with its terms, except as limited by general equitable principles and
by  bankruptcy,   insolvency,   reorganization   or  other  laws  affecting  the
enforcement of creditors'  rights;  and the Purchased  Securities have been duly
authorized  and executed by the Company,  and,  when  authenticated,  issued and
delivered  in  accordance   with  the   provisions  of  the  Indenture  and  the
Underwriting  Agreement,  will constitute  valid and binding  obligations of the
Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture,  except as limited by general
equitable principles and by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights.

          (iv)  The  Registration  Statement  has  become  effective  under  the
Securities Act and, to such counsel's  knowledge,  no stop order  suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the Securities
Act or proceedings therefor instituted or threatened under the Securities Act by
the Securities and Exchange Commission.

          (v) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply as to form in
all material  respects with the  requirements  of the Securities  Act, the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,  and the applicable  Rules and Regulations of
the Securities and Exchange  Commission  thereunder (except for the Statement of
Eligibility  and  Qualification  of the  Trustee  on  Form  T-1,  the  financial
statements and notes thereto, related schedules and exhibits and other financial
data  included in or omitted from the  Registration  Statement and other matters
referred to in the  Prospectus  under  "Experts",  as to which such  counsel may
express no opinion).

          (vi) No approval, authorization, consent, or other order of any public
board or body (other than in connection or in compliance  with the provisions of
the Federal  securities laws or the securities or Blue Sky laws of any State) is
legally  required  for the  issuance  and sale by the  Company of the  Purchased
Securities.


<PAGE>

          (vii) The Underwriting  Agreement has been duly  authorized,  executed
and delivered on behalf of the Company.






                                                                   EXHIBIT 4-(2)

================================================================================


                          SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY

                                       TO

                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK


                                   AS TRUSTEE



                                 ---------------


                          FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

                         DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997

                                TO THE INDENTURE

                            DATED AS OF JUNE 1, 1987



================================================================================



<PAGE>



          FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE,  dated as of September 30, 1997, between
SOUTHERN  NATURAL GAS COMPANY,  a corporation  duly organized and existing under
the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company"), and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
a New York corporation (the "Trustee"), as Trustee.

          WHEREAS,  the Company has  heretofore  executed  and  delivered to the
Trustee an Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1987 (the "Indenture"),  providing for
the issuance from time to time of the Company's unsecured debentures,  notes and
other evidences of indebtedness (herein and therein called the "Securities"), to
be issued in one or more series as in the Indenture provided;  WHEREAS,  Section
12.01 of the  Indenture  provides,  among other things,  that the Company,  when
authorized by a resolution of its Board of  Directors,  and the Trustee,  at any
time and from time to time, may without the consent of any Holders enter into an
indenture  supplemental  to the  Indenture  (a) for the  purpose of  changing or
eliminating  any  provision  of the  Indenture,  provided  that  such  change or
elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of
any series created prior to the execution of such  supplemental  indenture which
is entitled to the benefit of such provision,  and (b) to cure any ambiguity, to
correct or supplement any provision  therein which may be inconsistent  with any
other provision therein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters
or questions  arising under the Indenture which shall not be  inconsistent  with
the  provisions of the Indenture and shall not adversely  affect in any material
respect the interests of any Holders of the Securities;

          WHEREAS, the Company pursuant to the foregoing authority,  proposes in
and by this  First  Supplemental  Indenture  to amend the  Indenture  in certain
respects with respect to the  Securities  of any series  created on or after the
date hereof; and

          WHEREAS,   all  things  necessary  to  make  this  First  Supplemental
Indenture a valid agreement of the Company,  in accordance with its terms,  have
been done.


                                    AGREEMENT

          NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Trustee hereby agree as follows:

          1. The definition of  "Depositary"  is hereby added to Section 1.01 of
the Indenture to read in its entirety as follows:


<PAGE>


               "'Depositary' means, with respect to the Securities of any series
          issuable  or  issued  in  whole  or in part in the form of one or more
          permanent  global  Securities,  The  Depository  Trust Company or such
          other  Person  designated  as  Depositary  by the Company  pursuant to
          Section 3.01,  which must be a clearing  agency  registered  under the
          Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  and if at any time there
          is more than one such Person, 'Depositary' as used with respect to the
          Securities of any such series shall mean the  Depositary  with respect
          to the Securities of that series."

          2. A new Section 2.03 is hereby inserted into the Indenture to read in
its entirety as follows:

               "SECTION 2.03. SECURITIES IN PERMANENT GLOBAL FORM.

               If the Company shall establish  pursuant to Section 3.01 that the
          Securities  of a  series  are to be  issued  in  whole  or in  part in
          permanent  global form, then  notwithstanding  Section 3.01(8) and the
          provisions of Section 3.02, any such Security shall  represent such of
          the  Outstanding  Securities  of such  series  as shall  be  specified
          therein and may provide that it shall  represent the aggregate  amount
          of Outstanding  Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that
          the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may
          from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges.  Any endorsement of
          a Security in  permanent  global  form to reflect  the amount,  or any
          increase  or  decrease  in  the  amount,  of  Outstanding   Securities
          represented  thereby  shall  be made by the  Trustee  or the  Security
          registrar in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or
          Persons as shall be  specified in such  Security in  permanent  global
          form or in the  order  to be  delivered  to the  Trustee  pursuant  to
          Section 3.03 or Section  3.06.  Subject to the  provisions  of Section
          3.03 and, if  applicable,  Section  3.06,  the Trustee or the Security
          registrar shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global
          form in the  manner  and  upon  instructions  given by the  Person  or
          Persons  specified in such Security or in the applicable  order of the
          Company.  If an order of the Company  pursuant to Section 3.03 or 3.06
          has been, or  simultaneously  is,  delivered,  any instructions by the
          Company with respect to  endorsement  or delivery or  redelivery  of a
          global  Security shall be in writing but need not be accompanied by an
          Officer's  Certificate  or an Opinion of  Counsel,  PROVIDED  that the
          permanent global Security to be endorsed, delivered or redelivered has
          previously been covered by an Opinion of Counsel.


<PAGE>


               The  provisions  of the last  sentence of Section 3.03 shall only
          apply to any Security  represented  by a Security in permanent  global
          form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the
          Company delivers to the Trustee or the Security registrar the Security
          in permanent  global form  together with written  instructions  (which
          need not be accompanied  by an Officers'  Certificate or an Opinion of
          Counsel)  with  regard to the  reduction  in the  principal  amount of
          Securities  represented  thereby,  together with the written statement
          contemplated by the last sentence of Section 3.03.

               Except as provided in the Indenture  and in any permanent  global
          Security,  owners of  beneficial  interests  in any  permanent  global
          Security will not be entitled to have  Securities  registered in their
          names,  will not  receive  or be  entitled  to  physical  delivery  of
          Securities  in definitive  registered  form and will not be considered
          the Holders  thereof for any purpose under the Indenture.  None of the
          Company,  the Trustee,  any Paying Agent nor any Securities  registrar
          shall have any  responsibility  or liability for any aspect of records
          relating  to or  payments  made on  account  of  beneficial  ownership
          interests  in any  permanent  global  Security,  or  for  maintaining,
          supervising  or  reviewing  any records  relating  to such  beneficial
          ownership interests."

          3. Section 3.01 of the Indenture is hereby amended by:

               (i)  deleting  the  second  paragraph   thereof  and  adding  the
          following paragraph in lieu thereof:

                    "The  Securities may be issued in one or more series.  There
               shall be  established in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board
               of Directors and set forth, or determined in the manner provided,
               in an  Officers'  Certificate,  or  established  in one  or  more
               indentures   supplemental   hereto,  prior  to  the  issuance  of
               Securities of any series,";

               (ii) adding the following to the end of the parenthetical  phrase
          in clause (2):

               "and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.03 of
               the Indenture, shall have not been issued and sold by the Company
               and are  therefore  deemed never to have been  authenticated  and
               delivered hereunder";


<PAGE>

               (iii) adding the following to the beginning of clause (4):

               "the Person to whom any  interest  on any  Security of the series
               shall be payable if other than as set forth in Section 3.08,";

               (iv) renumbering clause (15) as clause (16);

               (v) adding the following as clause (15):

                    "(15)  whether  the  Securities  of  the  series  are  to be
               issuable in whole or in part in permanent  global  form,  without
               coupons, and, if so, (i) the circumstances under which beneficial
               owners  of  interests  in  such  permanent   global  Security  or
               Securities  may exchange such  interests  for  Securities of such
               series  and of like  interest  rate and  maturity  and  principal
               amount   in   definitive    registered    form   and   authorized
               denominations,  if other than as set forth in Section  3.05,  and
               (ii) the  Depositary  with respect to any such  permanent  global
               Security or Securities;" and

               (vi) deleting the last paragraph thereof and adding the following
          paragraph in lieu thereof:

                    "All  Securities  of any one series  shall be  substantially
               identical  except as to denomination  and except as may otherwise
               be  provided in or  pursuant  to the  resolution  of the Board of
               Directors  referred  to  above  and set  forth  in the  Officers'
               Certificate   referred   to  above  or  in  any  such   indenture
               supplemental hereto."

          4.  Section  3.02 of the  Indenture  is hereby  amended to read in its
entirety as follows:

          "The  Securities of each series shall be issuable in  registered  form
     without coupons and, except for any Security  issuable in permanent  global
     form,  in such  denominations  as shall be  specified  in  accordance  with
     Section  3.01.  In the  absence  of such  provisions  with  respect  to the
     Securities of any series,  the  Securities of such series shall be issuable
     in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof."

          5.  Section  3.03 of the  Indenture  is hereby  amended  by adding the
following at the end of the last paragraph:

               "Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  and  subject,  in the case of a
          Security in permanent  global form,  to Section  2.03, if any Security

<PAGE>

          shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued
          and sold by the Company,  and the Company  shall deliver such Security
          to the Trustee for  cancellation  as provided in Section 3.09 together
          with a written  statement (which need not be accompanied by an Opinion
          of Counsel) directing such cancellation and stating that such Security
          has never been  issued and sold by the  Company,  for all  purposes of
          this  Indenture  such  Security  shall be  deemed  never to have  been
          authenticated  and delivered  hereunder and shall never be entitled to
          the benefits of this Indenture."

          6.  Section  3.05 of the  Indenture  is hereby  amended  by adding the
following paragraph to the end thereof:

               "Notwithstanding the foregoing,  except as otherwise specified as
          contemplated  by Section 3.01, any permanent  global Security shall be
          exchangeable  pursuant  to  this  Section  only  as  provided  in this
          paragraph.  The beneficial  owners of interests in a permanent  global
          Security are entitled to the exchange of such interests for Securities
          of such series and of like  interest  rate and maturity and  principal
          amount in definitive registered form and authorized  denomination,  as
          specified in  accordance  with  Section  3.01,  if (a) the  Depositary
          notifies  the Company  that it is  unwilling  or unable to continue as
          Depositary  for such permanent  global  Security or if at any time the
          Depositary  ceases  to  be a  clearing  agency  registered  under  the
          Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (b) if the Company in its
          sole discretion  determines that such permanent  global Security shall
          be exchangeable for definitive  registered Securities and executes and
          delivers to the Security  registrar an order of the Company  providing
          that such permanent global Security shall be so  exchangeable,  or (c)
          any event shall have occurred and be continuing which, after notice or
          lapse of time, or both,  would become an Event of Default with respect
          to the  securities  of the  series  of  which  such  permanent  global
          Security  is a part.  Without  unnecessary  delay but in any event not
          later  than  the  earliest  date on  which  such  interests  may be so
          exchanged,  the Company  shall  deliver to the Trustee or the Security
          registrar definitive registered  Securities,  executed by the Company,
          of that series in aggregate  principal  amount equal to the  principal
          amount of such permanent global Security to be exchanged.  On or after
          the earliest  date on which such  interests  may be so  exchanged,  in

<PAGE>

          accordance with instructions given by the Company to the Trustee,  the
          Security registrar and the Depositary (which  instructions shall be in
          writing but need not be  accompanied  by an Opinion of Counsel),  such
          permanent  global  Security shall be surrendered  from time to time by
          the  Depositary or such other  depositary as shall be specified in the
          order of the  Company  with  respect  thereto to the  Trustee,  as the
          Company's agent for such purpose, or to the Security registrar,  to be
          exchanged,  in whole or in part, for definitive Securities of the same
          series, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver
          in accordance with such instructions,  in exchange for each portion of
          such permanent global Security,  a like aggregate  principal amount of
          definitive  registered  Securities  of the same  series of  authorized
          denominations  and of like  tenor  as the  portion  of such  permanent
          global  Security  to be  exchanged;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that no such
          exchanges  may  occur  during a period  beginning  at the  opening  of
          business 15 days before any selection of Securities of that series for
          redemption and ending on the relevant  Redemption  Date. If a Security
          is issued in exchange for any portion of a permanent  global  Security
          after the  close of  business  at the  office  or  agency  where  such
          exchange  occurs on (i) any  regular  record  date in  respect of such
          Security  and before the  opening of business at such office or agency
          on the relevant  interest payment date or (ii) any special record date
          and before the  opening of  business  at such  office or agency on the
          related  proposed date for payment of interest or defaulted  interest,
          as the case may be, such  interest or defaulted  interest  will not be
          payable on such interest payment date or proposed date for payment, as
          the case may be, in respect of such Security  issued in exchange,  but
          will be payable on such  interest  payment  date or proposed  date for
          payment,  as the case may be,  only to the Person to whom  interest or
          defaulted  interest in respect of such  permanent  global  Security is
          payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

          7.  Section 3.09 of the  Indenture  is hereby  amended by deleting the
second sentence thereof and adding the following sentence in lieu thereof:

               "The  Company  may  at  any  time  deliver  to  the  Trustee  for
          cancellation  any Securities  previously  authenticated  and delivered
          hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever
          and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to

<PAGE>


          the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously  authenticated
          hereunder  which  the  Company  has  not  issued  and  sold,  and  all
          Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee."

          8.  Section  4.03 of the  Indenture  is hereby  amended  by adding the
following sentence at the end thereof:

               "If a Security in permanent  global form is so  surrendered,  the
          Company shall execute,  and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver
          to the Depositary for such Security in permanent global form,  without
          service  charge,  a  new  Security  in  permanent  global  form,  in a
          denomination  equal to and in exchange for the  unredeemed  portion of
          the   principal  of  the   Security  in   permanent   global  form  so
          surrendered."

          9. All provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed
to be incorporated in, and made a part of, the Indenture;  and the Indenture, as
supplemented  by this First  Supplemental  Indenture,  shall be read,  taken and
construed as one and the same instrument.

          10. The  Trustee  accepts  the trusts  created  by the  Indenture,  as
supplemented  by this First  Supplemental  Indenture,  and agrees to perform the
same upon the terms and conditions in the  Indenture,  as  supplemented  by this
First Supplemental Indenture.

          11. The recitals contained in the Indenture and the Securities, except
the Trustee's  certificates of  authentication,  shall be taken as statements of
the Company,  and the Trustee assumes no responsibility  for their  correctness.
The Trustee makes no  representations  as to the validity or  sufficiency of the
Indenture or the Securities.

          12. All  capitalized  terms used and not defined herein shall have the
respective meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

          13.  This  First  Supplemental  Indenture  shall  be  governed  by and
construed  in  accordance  with the laws of the  jurisdiction  which  govern the
Indenture and its construction.

          14. This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of
counterparts,  each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original,
but all  such  counterparts  shall  together  constitute  but  one and the  same
instrument.



<PAGE>



          IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  caused  this  First
Supplemental  Indenture to be duly executed,  and their  respective  seals to be
hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the date first above written.
     
                                      SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY


                                      By:---------------------------------------
                                         Title:


[CORPORATE SEAL]

Attest:


- --------------------------
Title:

                                      THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK


                                      By:---------------------------------------
                                         Title:


[CORPORATE SEAL]

Attest:


- ---------------------------
Title:



<PAGE>


STATE OF ALABAMA                    )
                                    )   ss:
COUNTY OF JEFFERSON                 )

          On  the  ___  day  of  September,  1997,  before  me  personally  came
_________________________,  to me known,  who, being duly sworn,  did depose and
say that he is  __________________  of Southern Natural Gas Company,  one of the
corporations  described in and which executed the foregoing instrument;  that he
knows the seal of said corporation;  that the seal affixed to said instrument is
such  corporate  seal;  that it was so  affixed  by  authority  of the  Board of
Directors  of said  corporation,  and that he signed  his name  thereto  by like
authority.



                                        ----------------------------------------

<PAGE>


STATE OF NEW YORK                                   )
                                                    )         ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK                                  )

          On  the  30th  day of  September,  1997,  before  me  personally  came
_________________,  to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say
that  she  is a  Vice  President  of  The  Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  one  of  the
corporations described in and which executed the foregoing instrument;  that she
knows the seal of said corporation;  that the seal affixed to said instrument is
such  corporate  seal;  that it was so  affixed  by  authority  of the  Board of
Directors  of said  corporation,  and that she signed  her name  thereto by like
authority.



                                        ----------------------------------------




                                                                   EXHIBIT 4-(3)


          Unless this  certificate is presented by an authorized  representative
of The  Depository  Trust  Company,  55 Water  Street,  New York,  New York (the
"Depositary"), to Sonat Inc. or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange
or payment,  and any certificate  issued is registered in the name of CEDE & Co.
or in such other name as is requested  by an  authorized  representative  of The
Depository Trust Company (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other
entity as is requested by an authorized  representative of the Depositary),  ANY
TRANSFER,  PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON
IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest
herein.

No. R-1                                                             $100,000,000
                                                               CUSIP # 843452AW3

                          SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY

                         6.70% NOTES DUE OCTOBER 1, 2007

          Southern  Natural  Gas  Company,  a  corporation  duly  organized  and
existing  under the laws of the State of Delaware  (herein called the "Company",
which term shall also  include any  successor  corporation  under the  Indenture
hereinafter  referred to), for value received,  hereby promises to pay to CEDE &
Co., or registered  assigns,  the principal sum of ONE HUNDRED  MILLION  DOLLARS
($100,000,000)  on October 1, 2007 in such coin or currency of the United States
as at the time of payment  shall be legal  tender for the  payment of public and
private  debts,  and to pay interest on said principal sum, until said principal
sum is paid or made  available  for  payment,  at the rate of 6.70% per annum in
like coin or currency, from September 30, 1997 or from the most recent October 1
or April 1, as the case may be (each,  an  "Interest  Payment  Date"),  to which
interest  has  been  paid or duly  provided  for,  semi-annually  on April 1 and
October 1 in each year, commencing April 1, 1998 (provided, however, that if the
Company  shall  default in payment of the interest  due on any Interest  Payment
Date, then from the next preceding date to which interest has been paid or if no
interest has been paid on this global  Security,  then from September 30, 1997),
and  similarly  to pay  interest  at the  same  rate per  annum  on any  overdue
principal and on any overdue instalment of interest.  The interest so payable on
any April 1 or October 1 will,  subject to certain  exceptions  provided  in the
Indenture,  be paid to the person in whose name this permanent  global  Security
(or one or more  predecessor  Securities) is registered at the close of business
on the March 15 or September 15, as the case may be, next preceding such April 1

<PAGE>

or October 1. As used herein,  the term  "Depositary"  shall mean the Depositary
designated as such by the Company under the Indenture described herein.

          This permanent  global Security is one of a duly  authorized  issue of
debentures,  notes or other  evidences of  indebtedness  of the Company  (herein
referred to as the "Securities") of the series hereinafter specified, all issued
or to be issued  under and pursuant to an  Indenture,  dated as of June 1, 1987,
duly executed and delivered by the Company to The Chase  Manhattan Bank, a state
banking  corporation  organized and existing  under the laws of the State of New
York  (hereinafter  referred to as the  "Trustee"),  as  successor  by merger to
Manufacturers  Hanover Trust Company and Chemical Bank, as  supplemented  by the
First  Supplemental  Indenture,  dated as of  September  30,  1997,  between the
Company and the Trustee (as so supplemented, the "Indenture"). Reference is made
to the Indenture and all  indentures  supplemental  thereto for a description of
the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder
of the Trustee,  the Company and the Holders of the  Securities and of the terms
upon which the Securities are, and are to be,  authenticated and delivered.  The
Securities may be issued in one or more series,  which  different  series may be
issued in various aggregate  principal  amounts,  may mature at different times,
may bear  interest  (if any) at  different  rates,  may be subject to  different
redemption  or sinking  fund  provisions  (if any),  may be subject to different
covenants  and  Events of Default  and may  otherwise  vary as in the  Indenture
provided.  This permanent global Security is one of the series designated as the
Company's  6.70% Notes due October 1, 2007,  herein  referred to as the "Notes",
limited in aggregate principal amount to $100,000,000.

          This permanent  global  Security is exchangeable in whole or from time
to time in part for Securities of this series in definitive registered form only
as provided  herein and in the  Indenture.  If (i) the  Depositary  notifies the
Company  that it is  unwilling  or unable to  continue  as  Depositary  for this
permanent  global  Security  or if at any time  the  Depositary  ceases  to be a
clearing  agency  registered  under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
amended,  (ii) the Company in its sole discretion determines that this permanent
global  Security  shall  be  exchangeable  for  Securities  of  this  series  in
definitive registered form and executes and delivers to the Security registrar a
written order of the Company providing that this permanent global Security shall
be so  exchangeable,  or (iii) any event shall have  occurred and be  continuing
which,  after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default
with  respect to the  Securities  of the series of which this  permanent  global
Security is a part, this permanent  global  Security shall be  exchangeable  for
Securities  of this series in  definitive  registered  form,  PROVIDED  that the

<PAGE>

definitive  Securities so issued in exchange for this permanent  global Security
shall be in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples, without coupons,
and be of like  aggregate  principal  amount  and tenor as the  portion  of this
permanent global Security to be exchanged, and PROVIDED FURTHER that, unless the
Company  agrees  otherwise,  Securities of this series in definitive  registered
form will be issued in  exchange  for this  permanent  global  Security,  or any
portion  hereof,  only if such  Securities  in definitive  registered  form were
requested by written  notice to the Trustee or the  Security  registrar by or on
behalf of a Person  who is the  beneficial  owner of an  interest  hereof  given
through  the Holder  hereof.  Except as  provided  above,  owners of  beneficial
interests  in this  permanent  global  Security  will  not be  entitled  to have
Securities  registered  in their  names,  will not  receive  or be  entitled  to
physical  delivery of Securities in definitive  registered  form and will not be
considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture.  Neither the
Company,  the Trustee,  any Paying Agent nor the Securities registrar shall have
any  responsibility  or  liability  for any  aspect of  records  relating  to or
payments made on account of  beneficial  ownership  interests in this  permanent
global  Security,  or for  maintaining,  supervising  or  reviewing  any records
relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

          Any exchange of this permanent  global  Security or portion hereof for
one or more Securities of this series in definitive registered form will be made
at the New York office of the Trustee or the Security registrar, upon request by
or on behalf of the Person who is the  beneficial  owner of an  interest  herein
given through the Holder hereof and in accordance with instructions given by the
Company to the Trustee, the Security registrar and the Depositary. Upon exchange
of any portion of this permanent  global  Security for one or more Securities of
this  series  in  definitive  registered  form,  the  Trustee  or  the  Security
registrar,  as the case may be, shall cancel this permanent  global Security and
issue a new permanent  global  Security or Securities of this series and of like
tenor for the remaining principal amount. Except as otherwise provided herein or
in the  Indenture,  until  exchanged in full for one or more  Securities of this
series in definitive  registered  form, this permanent  global Security shall in
all  respects be subject to and  entitled to the same  benefits  and  conditions
under the  Indenture  as a duly  authenticated  and  delivered  Security of this
series in definitive registered form.

          Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this
permanent  global  Security  due at  maturity  will be made by wire  transfer in
immediately  available  funds to such account as may have been designated to the
Paying Agent upon  surrender of this Security at the  corporate  trust office of
the Paying  Agent in the Borough of  Manhattan,  The City of New York,  PROVIDED

<PAGE>

that this permanent global Security is presented to the Paying Agent in time for
the Paying Agent to make such payment in accordance with its normal  procedures.
Payments of interest  (other than interest  payable at maturity) will be made by
check mailed to the address of the Person entitled  thereto as it appears in the
Security  register,  or by wire transfer in immediately  available funds to such
account as may have been designated to the Paying Agent.

          In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, with respect
to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing,  the principal of all of the
Notes  (including  this  permanent  global  Security)  and the accrued  interest
thereon  may be  declared,  and upon  such  declaration  shall  become,  due and
payable,  and such declaration may in certain events be rescinded by the Holders
of  a  majority  in  aggregate  principal  amount  of  the  Notes  at  the  time
Outstanding,  in the  manner,  with the  effect and  subject  to the  conditions
provided in the Indenture.

          The  Indenture  also  provides  that  the  Holders  of a  majority  in
aggregate  principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding may waive (with
certain  exceptions) any past default under the Indenture and its  consequences.
The Indenture contains provisions  permitting the Company and the Trustee,  with
the consent of the Holders of a majority in  aggregate  principal  amount of the
Securities at the time  Outstanding of each series to be affected,  evidenced as
in the  Indenture  provided,  to  execute  supplemental  indentures  adding  any
provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating  any of the provisions of
the  Indenture or of any  supplemental  indenture or modifying in any manner the
rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,
that no such  supplemental  indenture shall (i) extend the fixed maturity of any
Security,  or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon,
or reduce the  principal  amount  thereof or any  premium  thereon,  or make the
principal  thereof or any  premium or  interest  thereon  payable in any coin or
currency  other than that  hereinbefore  provided,  without  the  consent of the
Holder of such Security,  or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities,
the Holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture,
without the consent of the Holders of all Securities affected thereby.  Any such
waiver or  consent  by the  Holder of this  permanent  global  Security  (unless
effectively  revoked as  provided  in the  Indenture)  shall be  conclusive  and
binding  upon  such  Holder  and upon all  future  Holders  and  owners  of this

<PAGE>

permanent  global Security and of any Security or Securities  issued in exchange
herefor or in lieu hereof,  irrespective  of whether any notation of such waiver
or consent is made upon this permanent global Security.

          The Indenture  contains  provisions  for defeasance at any time of (a)
the entire indebtedness of the Company on this permanent global Security and (b)
a restrictive covenant and the related Event of Default,  upon compliance by the
Company with certain  conditions set forth therein,  which  provisions  apply to
this permanent global Security.

          Nothing in the Indenture  prohibits the consolidation or merger of the
Company with or into any corporation or corporations,  or the sale or conveyance
of all or substantially all of the Company's  properties and assets to any other
person,  without the consent of the Holders,  provided  that, in the case of any
consolidation  of  the  Company  with,  or  merger  of  the  Company  into,  any
corporation  or  corporations,  or any sale or conveyance of the  properties and
assets of the  Company as an  entirety  or  substantially  as an  entirety,  the
successor corporation, or the person which acquired by sale or conveyance all or
substantially  all of the Company's  properties and assets,  as the case may be,
assumes all of the  obligations  of the Company  under the Indenture and certain
other conditions are met. Upon such assumption the Company will be released from
its  liability  as  obligor  on this  permanent  global  Security  and all other
obligations and covenants under the Indenture.

          Except as set forth in the  preceding  two  paragraphs,  no  reference
herein to the Indenture and no provision of this permanent global Security shall
alter  or  impair  the  obligation  of  the  Company,   which  is  absolute  and
unconditional,  to pay the principal of and premium if any, and interest on this
permanent  global Security at the time and place and at the rate and in the coin
or currency herein prescribed.

          This permanent global Security is not redeemable prior to maturity.

          As  provided  in the  Indenture  and  subject to  certain  limitations
therein set forth, the transfer of this permanent global Security is registrable
in the Security  register,  upon surrender of this permanent global Security for
registration  of  transfer  at the office or agency of the  Company in any place
where the  principal of (and  premium,  if any) and  interest on this  permanent
global  Security are payable,  duly  endorsed  by, or  accompanied  by a written
instrument  of transfer  in form  satisfactory  to the Company and the  Security
registrar duly executed by the Holder hereof or his attorney duly  authorized in

<PAGE>

writing,  and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series, of authorized
denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the
designated transferee or transferees.

          No service charge shall be made for any such  registration of transfer
or exchange of Securities as provided above, but the Company may require payment
of a sum  sufficient to cover any tax or other  governmental  charge  payable in
connection therewith.

          The  Company,  the  Trustee,  any  Paying  Agent  and any agent of the
Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this permanent  global
Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this
permanent global Security be overdue,  and neither the Company,  the Trustee nor
any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary  (including,  without
limitation, notice of any beneficial interests herein).

          Prior  to due  presentment  of  this  permanent  global  Security  for
registration  of transfer,  the Company,  the Trustee,  any Paying Agent and any
agent of the  Company  or the  Trustee  may treat the  Person in whose name this
permanent  global  Security is  registered as the owner hereof for all purposes,
whether or not this  permanent  global  Security  is  overdue,  and  neither the
Company,  the Trustee,  any Paying Agent nor any such agent shall be affected by
notice to the contrary (including,  without limitation, notice of any beneficial
interests herein).

          No  recourse  shall be had for the  payment  of the  principal  of, or
premium,  if any, or the interest on this permanent global Security,  or for any
claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of
the Indenture or any indenture  supplemental thereto,  against any incorporator,
stockholder,  officer or  director,  as such,  past,  present or future,  of the
Company or of any successor corporation,  whether by virtue of any constitution,
statute or rule of law, or by the  enforcement  of any  assessment or penalty or
otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the
consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

          All terms used in this permanent  global Security which are defined in
the Indenture and not herein otherwise  defined shall have the meanings assigned
to them in the Indenture.

          Unless the certificate of  authentication  hereon has been executed by
the Trustee by manual  signature,  this permanent  global  Security shall not be
entitled to any benefit under the  Indenture or be valid or  obligatory  for any
purpose.


<PAGE>

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.


Dated:  September 30, 1997              SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY


                                        By:-------------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

[SEAL]


Attest:-------------------------
       Title:


<PAGE>



                         CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the permanent global  Securities of the series  designated herein
referred to in the  within-mentioned  Indenture.

     THE CHASE  MANHATTAN  BANK, as Trustee


     By------------------------------------
               Authorized Officer




<PAGE>
               FOR VALUE RECEIVED, THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY SELLS,
                           ASSIGNS AND TRANSFERS UNTO

                     PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
                         IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE


- ----------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE)



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
the within permanent global Security and all rights thereunder,  and hereby does
irrevocably  appoint  ____________________________________  attorney to transfer
said permanent  global Security on the books of the Company,  with full power of
substitution in the premises.

Dated:------------------------

               NOTICE:  The signature to this  assignment  must  correspond
          with the name as written  upon the face of the  within  permanent
          global  Security  in  every  particular   without  alteration  or
          enlargement or any change  whatsoever and must be guaranteed by a
          commercial  bank or trust company having its principal  office or
          correspondent  in The City of New York or by a member  of the New
          York Stock Exchange.






                                                                      EXHIBIT 12

                  SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

                        Computation of Ratios of Earnings
                   From Continuing Operations to Fixed Charges
                              Total Enterprise (a)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  Six Months 
                                                Ended June 30,                        Years Ended December 31,
                                              -------------------   ----------------------------------------------------

                                                1997       1996       1996      1995       1994        1993      1992
                                                ----       ----       ----      ----       ----        ----      ----
<S>                                           <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>     
Earnings from Continuing Operations:
      Income (loss) before Income taxes       $ 89,064   $ 71,712   $150,219   $134,124   $ 76,098   $127,617   $126,691
      Fixed charges (see computation below)     16,569     24,946     43,028     48,779     47,575     58,249     47,995
                                              --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
Total Earnings Available for Fixed Charges    $105,633   $ 96,658   $193,247   $182,903   $123,673   $185,866   $174,686
                                              ========   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========
Fixed Charges:
      Interest expense before deducting
           interest capitalized               $ 15,792   $ 23,863   $ 41,147   $ 46,859   $ 45,900   $ 56,599   $ 46,298
      Rentals (b)                                  777      1,083      1,881      1,920      1,675      1,650      1,697
                                              --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
                                              $ 16,569   $ 24,946   $ 43,028   $ 48,779   $ 47,575   $ 58,249   $ 47,995
                                              ========   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges                 6.4        3.9        4.5        3.7        2.6        3.2        3.6
                                              ========   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========   ========

- ----------

(a)    Amounts  include the  Company's  portion of the  captions as they relate to persons  accounted  for by the equity
       method.

(b)    These amounts  represent 1/3 of rentals which  approximate the interest factor  applicable to such rentals of the
       Company and its subsidiaries and continuing unconsolidated affiliates.

</TABLE>



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