Guardian partnership inks pipeline construction contract

Feb. 21, 2002
Guardian Pipeline signed a deal with Dallas-based construction firm H.C. Price Co. for the construction of a 142 mile, 36-in. system that will carry as much as 750 MMcfd of natural gas from the Chicago hub near Joliet, Ill., to Ixonia, Wis.


By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Feb. 21 -- Guardian Pipeline signed a deal with Dallas-based construction firm H.C. Price Co. for the construction of a 142 mile, 36-in. natural gas system that will carry as much as 750 MMcfd of natural gas from the Chicago hub near Joliet, Ill., to Ixonia, Wis.

Guardian also signed a contract with Murphy Bros. Inc., Moline, Ill., for construction of the line's 22,225 hp compressor station, which will be built near Joliet. The station will consist of five engine compressor units.

Also, an 8.5 mile, 16-in. lateral is planned to near Eagle, Wis. Guardian Pipeline has agreements with Wisconsin Gas and others to transport 662 MMcfd (88% of design capacity) when the pipeline goes into service in November 2002.

"This signing of the project's main construction contractors keeps Guardian on track to meet its scheduled in-service date this November," said George Hass, Guardian project manager. Guardian received approval for the line from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in March 2001 (OGJ, Mar. 26, 2001, Newsletter, p. 9).

Construction on the compressor station is slated to begin next month. Pipeline construction will start Jun. 1, Guardian said.

Guardian will transport gas from interconnections with Alliance Pipeline LP, Northern Border Pipeline Co., Midwestern Gas Transmission Co., and Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America.

Guardian is a partnership of CMS Energy Corp., Dearborn, Mich.; Wicor, a unit of Wisconsin Energy, Milwaukee; and Viking Gas Transmission Co., a unit of Xcel Energy Inc., St. Paul, Minn.