260-Mile Guardian Pipeline Expands Capacity by 40% After Strong Open Season
DT Midstream awarded 537,000 Dth/d in new expansion capacity on its Guardian Pipeline following strong shipper interest, boosting system capacity by 40%. The project will enter service in 2028 to meet rising gas demand in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest.
(P&GJ) — DT Midstream has completed a successful binding open season for its 260-mile Guardian Pipeline, awarding new expansion capacity totaling 328,103 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) to five shippers.
The additional capacity, combined with awards from a previous open season in July 2025, brings the total expansion to 536,903 Dth/d — representing a roughly 40% increase from Guardian’s current capacity. The project targets an in-service date of Nov. 1, 2028.
“The strong interest in this expansion capacity is an indication of the growing demand for natural gas in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest region where our pipelines are well-positioned,” said David Slater, president and CEO of DT Midstream.
The Guardian system, owned entirely by DT Midstream, has a current capacity of about 1.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) and spans approximately 260 miles. It interconnects with DT Midstream’s Midwestern Gas Transmission and Vector Pipeline systems to serve key demand centers in Wisconsin.
Detroit-based DT Midstream operates a portfolio of natural gas pipelines, gathering systems and storage assets across the U.S. and Canada. The company is targeting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with plans to achieve a 30% reduction by 2030.
Last November, the company completed a $1.2 billion acquisition of three FERC-regulated natural gas pipelines from ONEOK Inc., significantly expanding its footprint across the Upper Midwest. The portfolio included the Guardian Pipeline, Midwestern Gas Transmission, and Viking Gas Transmission systems, with a combined capacity exceeding 3.7 Bcf/d and totaling roughly 1,300 miles across seven states.
The Guardian Pipeline, now wholly owned and operated by DT Midstream, spans about 260 miles and is interconnected with the company’s Vector Pipeline and the Chicago Hub, serving key demand centers in Wisconsin. The acquisition strengthened DT Midstream’s access to major Midwest markets expected to see continued power demand growth, while enhancing integration between its existing pipeline network and new high-quality demand-pull customers.
DT Midstream executives said at the time the deal supported the company’s “pure-play natural gas strategy” and would be immediately accretive to distributable cash flow, while positioning the company for additional expansion opportunities across the region.