Gran Tierra Energy Announces 6,300 BOPD Production Test on Proa-2 Appraisal Well, Argentina 03/29 11:01 PM
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Drilling Programs Advance in Colombia and Brazil, Production Update
CALGARY, March 29, 2012 /CNW/ - Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (GTE:$5.84,00$-0.10,00-1.68%) ("Gran Tierra Energy") , a company focused on oil exploration and production in South America, today provided updates for its operations in Argentina, Colombia and Brazil.
Argentina
Surubi Block, Noroeste Basin (Gran Tierra Energy (GTE:$5.84,00$-0.10,00-1.68%) 85% WI and Operator, Recursos y Energia de Formosa S.A. 15% WI)
Gran Tierra Energy (GTE:$5.84,00$-0.10,00-1.68%) has completed drilling and testing the Proa-2 appraisal well, the second well in the Proa oil field. The successful well encountered approximately 31 meters of net pay in two Palmar Largo intervals. Production tests were performed on the two intervals independently, resulting in combined natural flow rates of 6,300 barrels of oil per day ("BOPD") gross of 46° API oil with no water cut. The well is expected to be on production in April, 2012, initially at approximately 2,000 BOPD gross to further analyze reservoir performance while additional transportation capacity is evaluated.
Colombia
Llanos-22 Block, Llanos Basin (CEPSA 55% WI and Operator, Gran Tierra Energy (GTE:$5.84,00$-0.10,00-1.68%) 45% WI subject to Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburosapproval)
The Ramiriqui-1 oil exploration well in the Llanos-22 block, located in the Andean foothills trend of the Llanos Basin, has reached total depth at 19,519 feet measured depth in basement. A testing program has been designed to test the reservoir and hydrocarbon character of the zones with oil shows encountered during drilling the Mirador Formation. Results from this testing are expected in April, 2012.
Brazil
REC-T-155 Block (Gran Tierra Energy (GTE:$5.84,00$-0.10,00-1.68%) 70% WI & Operator, Alvorada 30% WI)
The 3-GTE-03D-BA and 3-GTE-4DPA-BA appraisal wells, located 1.2 kilometers north and 0.70 kilometers south of the 1-ALV-2-BA oil discovery well respectively, are scheduled to be tested and expected to be on production by June, 2012. In addition, Gran Tierra Energy (GTE:$5.84,00$-0.10,00-1.68%) is currently preparing the necessary Agência Nacional de Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis documents for the declaration of commerciality and the plan of development for the field.
REC-T-142 Block (Gran Tierra Energy (GTE:$5.84,00$-0.10,00-1.68%) 70% WI & Operator, Alvorada 30% WI)
Drilling of the first horizontal sidetrack well, currently planned to be drilled from the 1-GTE-01-BA pilot hole, has been delayed to June, 2012 due to rig availability. This will be the first of three horizontal sidetrack wells that Gran Tierra Energy (GTE:$5.84,00$-0.10,00-1.68%) expects to be drilled to test the productivity of the light oil sandstone reservoir targets in the Recôncavo Basin.
Production
First quarter production and sales have been impacted by approximately 26 days of oil delivery restrictions due to three separate Ecopetrol-operated Oleoducto Transandino ("OTA") pipeline disruptions in Colombia, the latest of which occurred on March 13, 2012. Gran Tierra Energy (GTE:$5.84,00$-0.10,00-1.68%) continued production at a reduced rate while the OTA pipeline was down, selling a portion of its crude through trucking and storing excess crude. The pipeline has been repaired and was back in service on March 24, 2012. Gran Tierra Energy's (GTE:$5.84,00$-0.10,00-1.68%) current production is approximately 19,200 barrels of oil equivalent per day ("BOEPD").
Also, as a result of entering into new crude oil sales and transportation agreements with Ecopetrol as of February 1, 2012, which changed the sales point of produced oil from Orito to Tumaco, Gran Tierra Energy's (GTE:$5.84,00$-0.10,00-1.68%) reported crude oil inventory will increase representing ownership of oil in the OTA and associated Ecopetrol owned facilities. This change in sales point and the increase in crude oil inventory will have a corresponding one-time reduction in oil sales of approximately 1,600 BOEPD net after royalty ("NAR") to be reported for the quarter. As a result of the OTA pipeline disruptions and the new crude oil sales and transportation agreements, sales for all Gran Tierra Energy (GTE:$5.84,00$-0.10,00-1.68%) properties are expected to average approximately 16,000 BOEPD NAR, from January 1, 2012 to March 31, 2012.
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