Sacramento, CA-based Cascade Energy Inc. said Monday it has commenced construction in the Empress area of Alberta on a natural gas pipeline that will tie in the “11-16” gas well for commercial production. In doing so, Cascade has advanced its pro-rata share of the required funds in full to the operator.

With the right-of-way secured and construction under way, Cascade said it anticipates that the pipeline will be finished and commercial production and sales will begin by the end of the month. Cascade and partners will tie in to existing infrastructure at the Alta Gas gathering system.

“This tie-in point is 1.5 miles from the well and is the best logistical point for connection,” the company said. The construction timetable should allow Cascade to be online and in production to take advantage of rising winter gas prices. The 11-16 natural gas well — when in production — is projected to produce 500 to 600 Mcf/d of natural gas as a stable production rate.

In addition, Cascade also announced plans to drill a second gas well on the Empress project. The timing of the well is scheduled such that the drilling, completion and tie-in can occur quickly, so it could be in production before year-end, the company said.

Known as Pro-Tech Holdings Ltd. prior to April 2005, Cascade Energy Inc. operates as an oil and gas exploration company. The company has working interests in two natural gas projects and an Arctic coal project. In addition to the Empress prospect, Cascade also has the Coyote Creek gas prospect in the Sacramento Basin of California and the Strand Fiord project, located on Axel Heiberg Island of the Canadian Arctic. It also has a 49% working interest in Bolloque project, located in Alberta.

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