About 400 employees, including just over 300 in Houston, were let go during a company reorganization, spokesman Bruce Connery said.

Before the cuts, El Paso had about 7,500 employees, with about 2,900 of them in Houston.

The reductions didn't hit El Paso's field operations, which include employees who work along pipelines. Nor did the cuts hit its midstream services business, which, among other activities, is involved in natural gas processing, natural gas liquids and natural gas storage.

In December, El Paso's new chief executive officer, Doug Foshee, unveiled a long-term strategic plan for turning around the company. It includes paying down debt, in part by selling assets and cutting costs.

At the time, El Paso targeted $150 million in new cost savings, which it said it would achieve by simplifying its corporate setup and other actions. It also said then that job cuts would result but that it was too early to say how many.

Connery called the reorganization an important step in achieving the annual $150 million in cost savings. The company doesn't foresee additional downsizing, he said.

Those who have lost jobs are receiving severance and outplacement benefits.