How do I create a new shapeObj from a list of shapeobj?

[Bryon Kenne]

I am retrieving a list of shapes from a line shapefile file using the
following code:

for($x=0;$x<count($oShapeList);$x++)
{
   $oSelectedShape = $oRelationLayer->getshape(-1, $oShapeList[$x]);
   array_push($oShapeObjectList,$oSelectedShape);
}

I want to merge this list of shapes into one shape (i.e. one line).  I
thought I could do it using the following code but it returns a "Fatal
error: Object has an invalid _handle_ property":

$oLine = ms_newShapeObj(MS_SHAPE_LINE);
For($x=0; $x<count($oShapeObjectList);$x++)
{
   $oLine->add($oShapeObjectList[$x]);
}

The goal here is to create one line, then use the GEOS - buffer(width)
to create a polygon object that I can save to a new shapefile.

Does anybody have any ideas? OR CODE!!!

Sincerely,
Bryon