RIMOUSKI, QUEBEC — (Marketwire) — 09/24/12 — Petrolia (TSX VENTURE: PEA) would like to issue a progress report on its activities currently underway in the Gaspe Pensinsula and on Anticosti Island.
Gaspe Peninsula – Bourque No. 1
Drilling of the Bourque No. 1 well, located halfway between Murdochville and Grande-Vallee, has been underway since late July. To date, the well has reached a depth of over 2,400 meters and is approaching the West Point Formation, where two separate targets are scheduled for assessment. In all, the well will reach a total estimated vertical depth of 3,200 meters.
In the formations underlying the objective, the test well revealed numerous hydrocarbon shows that justified a number of further short term production tests. These tests are currently being evaluated to determine the size of these zones in terms of exploration. Findings have already shown that the petroleum system is operational in this part of the Gaspe Peninsula.
Drilling of the Bourque No. 1 well is slightly behind our initial schedule. This delay is due to the hardness of rocks encountered and the many tests carried out on the formations underlying the objective, given the significant shows found there. Petrolia intends to take core samples for more detailed analysis, particularly at the level of the Forillon Formation when drilling the Bourque No. 2 well.
Gaspe Peninsula – Bourque No. 2
The platform for the next well is currently being finalized. Site preparation work will be carried out next week. The site will be ready for the drilling rig as soon as the Bourque No. 1 well is complete.
Gaspe Peninsula – Haldimand No. 4
Site preparation work has begun. The site has been cleared and we will proceed with the next site preparation steps starting next week. This third well is being drilled on the Haldimand structure in order to intercept, at an optimal angle, a network of natural fractures identified in the course of previous Petrolia and Quebenergie operations. Drilling is slated to begin in mid-January 2013.
In addition, work by INRS and Technorem to survey the groundwater system of the Haldimand Peninsula is proceeding as scheduled. This study is a first in eastern Quebec. Exploration activities are an opportunity to obtain scientific information on the regions targeted and Petrolia is proud to take part in them.
Anticosti – Stratigraphic tests
Petrolia and its partner Corridor Resources (CDH-TSX) have successfully completed the first stratigraphic corehole in the western sector of Anticosti Island at the Princeton Lake location. The corehole intersected 100 m of Macasty Formation, from a 850-meter depth. Core samples taken from the Macasty Formation were sent to Weatherford labs in Texas and TerraTeck labs in Calgary for testing. The purpose of the tests is to determine the main petrophysical and rock parameters of the Macasty Formation and compare them to both the Macasty Formation parameters in the Chaloupe area located on the eastern side of Anticosti Island, as well as the Utica Formation parameters in Ohio.
Equipment has been moved to the HighCliff site further east of the previous site to take core samples. This second corehole is underway and should be completed by late October.
Moreover, Petrolia has announced that it signed an agreement with INRS to carry out a groundwater study on Anticosti Island. The study will be similar to that conducted earlier in the Gaspe Pensinsula and is meant to enhance knowledge of groundwater. In all, 14 water wells will be drilled this fall as part of the study.
Andre Proulx is pleased to note that Petrolia is actively pursuing its exploration operations in Quebec and will continue to focus its efforts on finding oil.
About Petrolia
Petrolia is a junior oil and gas exploration company which owns interests in oil and gas licenses covering 14,000 km2 (3.5 million acres), which represents about 17% of the Quebec territory under lease. The leases, the majority of which are located on the Gaspe Peninsula and Anticosti Island, are considered to be very promising and represent almost 70% of the territory under lease for which there is land-based oil potential in Quebec. Petrolia has 66 585 750 shares issued and outstanding.
Forward-looking statements
Certain statements made herein may constitute forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or the future economic performance of Petrolia and carry known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may appreciably affect their results, economic performance or accomplishments when considered in light of the content or implications o statements made by Petrolia. Actual events or results could be significantly different. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Petrolia does not intend and undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
Isabelle Proulx
VP, Business Development
Quebec City: (418) 657-1966
Andre Proulx
President
(418) 724-0112