Gran Tierra Energy Inc. Provides Operations Update Highlighted by Progress with Costayaco A-Limestone, Putumayo Exploration Success and Acordionero Development

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Aug 3, 2017) - Gran Tierra Energy Inc. ("Gran Tierra" or the "Company") (NYSE American:GTE)(NYSE MKT:GTE)(GTE.TO), a company focused on oil and gas exploration and production in Colombia, is pleased to provide today an operations update and information on the previously announced June 30, 2017 closing of the sale of the Company's Brazil business. All dollar amounts are in United States ("U.S.") dollars and all production volumes are on a working interest before royalties ("WI") basis, unless otherwise stated.

Highlights

  • Progress with A-Limestone in Costayaco, 100% WI

    • CYC-28, the first horizontal well targeting the A-Limestone, continues to produce 839 barrels of oil per day ("bopd") at 0.6% water cut (average since July 5, 2017) from a 1,718-foot ("ft") horizontal section; the well's production is restricted due to pump limitations; future increases in pressure drawdown are planned through pump optimization

    • CYC-29, the second A-Limestone horizontal well, was successfully drilled using underbalanced drilling technology to achieve a 6,000-ft horizontal section; the well has been completed with a multi-stage acid stimulation; the well stabilized at 1,200 barrels of fluid per day ("bfpd") over a two day period with a 40% water cut (spent acid), 27° to 28° API oil; the well's initial calculated productivity index is estimated to be twice the CYC-28's productivity index; preparations are underway to begin a planned long-term production test over the next several weeks

  • Multi-Zone Discovery with Vonu-1 Exploration Well, Putumayo 1 ("PUT-1") Block, 55% WI

    • During June and July 2017, the well had successful production tests on jet pump from two separate zones (results from last 24 hours of each test):

      • A-Limestone: average 1,938 bopd (100% gross) or 1,066 bopd WI at less than 1% water cut

      • U Sand: average 217 bopd (100% gross) or 119 bopd WI at less than 3% water cut

    • The well was brought on production for an extended short-term test from the A-Limestone alone at an oil rate of 1,814 bopd (100 % gross) or 998 bopd WI with a 1.0% water cut (average since July 21, 2017)

  • Progress with N Sand Wells in Putumayo 7 ("PUT-7") Block, 100% WI

    • Cumplidor-1: producing 1,492 bopd, 19° API, less than 1% water cut (average since July 10, 2017)

    • Confianza-1: producing 374 bopd, 21° API, less than 1% water cut (average since July 1, 2017)

  • Continued Strong Performance at Acordionero, 100% WI

    • Since acquiring the Middle Magdalena Valley ("MMV") Basin assets 11 months ago, Gran Tierra has increased production from 5,620 to 11,958 bopd; the Acordionero field's production has increased by 135% to a record high current rate of 11,120 bopd over the same time period

  • Sale of Brazil Business, 100% WI

    • On June 30, 2017, Gran Tierra completed the previously announced disposition of the Company's assets in Brazil to a third party for aggregate cash consideration of approximately $38 million, including certain closing adjustments.

  • Production

    • Gran Tierra's Colombia WI production is currently 34,178 barrels of oil equivalent per day ("BOEPD") as of the last week of July 2017, up 20% from first quarter 2017's Colombia average WI production of 28,481 BOEPD.

    • With the disposition of Brazil effective June 30, 2017, Gran Tierra has tightened its 2017 average annual production guidance to a range of 33,300 to 34,300 BOEPD which excludes Brazil from second half 2017. The Company revised the top end of the guidance as a result of the testing of additional zones in the first and second quarters of 2017, operational delays in bringing onstream CYC-28 and 29 A-Limestone horizontal wells and a pump failure in Cumplidor-1 in the PUT-7 Block. The Company disposed of 950 BOEPD of non-operated, low netback production in the fourth quarter of 2016 and an additional 1,400 BOEPD of non-core assets located in Brazil on June 30, 2017. Gran Tierra expects fourth quarter 2017 average WI production before royalties to be 35,000 to 37,000 BOEPD which would be an increase of 16% to 22% compared to fourth quarter 2016 (excluding Brazil).