Restart of production at Bretana oil field

RNS Number : 1359U

PetroTal Corp.

27 July 2020

 

PetroTal announces restart of production at Bretana oil field  

Initial production rates of over 12,000 bopd

Calgary and Houston - July 27, 2020-PetroTal Corp. ("PetroTal" or the "Company") (TSX‐V: TAL and AIM: PTAL) is pleased to provide an update on operations at the Bretana oil field which, as previously indicated, recommenced in mid-July. 

Highlights

· PetroTal has implemented stringent testing measures and modified operating procedures to ensure the safety of its workers;

· The Bretana field restarted operations on July 15^th, 2020 and production has returned to pre-shutdown levels of 11,500 barrels of oil per day ("bopd") , exceeding 12,000 bopd when all seven wells are online;

· Oil deliveries have commenced to the Iquitos refinery and deliveries to the Northern Oil Pipeline ("ONP") at the Saramuro Pump Station are expected to commence in early August 2020; and,

· Q2 2020 production was approximately 4,180 bopd.  Taking into account the field was shut-in since early May 2020, average Q2 2020 production for the period the oil field was producing represented approximately 11,500 bopd.

Bretana Oil Field

On May 7, 2020, PetroTal announced that it had temporarily shut in the Bretana oil field operations in response to a directive issued by the Peruvian government's health department related to COVID-19 prevention, that resulted in the operator of the ONP (Petroperu) having to shut down pipeline operations.   The Breta na oil field was producing approximately 11,500 bopd prior to being shut in. PetroTal used this period to perform maintenance operations and effected improvements to the production facilities.

In anticipation of the re-opening of the ONP, Bretana oil production recommenced on July 15, 2020 and achieved over 12,000 bopd when all seven wells were online.

Crude oil production is the basis for royalty calculation purposes by Perupetro, the Peruvian government agency responsible for collecting the royalty payments, and such volumes are reported on its website: https://www.perupetro.com.pe/wps/wcm/connect/corporativo/7318e1ef-aaa2-4c91-8313-7d2090cba5fa/Producci%C3%B3n+l%C3%ADquidos.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&liquidos .

The website reports all crude oil production in Peru, of which the Block 95 reference is the Bretana oil field.  The reported crude oil volumes do not include the approximately 4% of natural gasoline blended into the Bretana crude oil to meet the required viscosity specifications, especially those at the ONP; hence oil sales volumes are slightly larger than the crude oil volumes reported by Perupetro. 

Oil deliveries have already commenced to the Iquitos refinery and approximately 40,000 barrels are expected be delivered during July 2020.

Oil is being barged to the Saramuro Pump Station ready to be delivered into the ONP immediately at its recommencement of its operations, expected in early August 2020.  To manage the Company's inventory and barge storage capacity, Bretana production has been reduced to approximately 8,000 bopd pending the restart of the pipeline.

Workforce and Community Safety

PetroTal has implemented a stringent COVID-19 safety protocol, which has been reviewed and approved by PetroTal's HSE-CSR Board Committee as well as Peru's Health Ministry.  PetroTal's protocol includes appropriate distancing, use of facemasks at all times, temperature checks three times a day, rapid tests before entering the field and then in Bretana camp every three days, each person having their own room, constant disinfection of all spaces, and a doctor and two nurses on location to supervise.  While the workers from the Bretana community stay at the camp during their rotation, the crew of all oil transport barges do not enter the camp, though they are subjected to the same protocol every time a vessel arrives at Bretana.

Annual General Meeting

PetroTal will hold its annual general and special meeting of shareholders ("AGM") on September 9, 2020.  Meeting materials for the AGM will be mailed this week.  Further AGM details will be provided in subsequent announcements.

Manolo Zuniga, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"On behalf of PetroTal, I would like to thank the 30 person team that stayed at Bretana during the shut down and ensured all the facilities were properly maintained, which is reflected by how quickly the new 130 person team was able to re-open the oil wells, recommence construction support activities and again reach 12,000 bopd of production.  Our commitment is to ensure all stakeholders benefit from the Bretana project, including the local communities that support our Company."

ABOUT PETROTAL

PetroTal is a publicly‐traded, dual‐quoted (TSXV: TAL and AIM: PTAL) oil and gas development and production company domiciled in Calgary, Alberta, focused on the development of oil assets in Peru.  PetroTal's flagship asset is its 100% working interest in Bretana oil field in Peru's Block 95 where oil production was initiated in June 2018, and in early 2020 became the second largest crude oil producer in Peru with more than 10,000 bopd of production. Additionally, the Company has large exploration prospects and is engaged in finding a partner to drill the Osheki prospect in Block 107. The Company's management team has significant experience in developing and exploring for oil in Northern Peru and is led by a Board of Directors that is focused on safely and cost effectively developing the Bretaña oil field.

For further information, please see the Company's website at www.petrotal-corp.com , the Company's filed documents at www.sedar.com , or contact:

Douglas Urch

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

[e-mail]

T: [phone]

Manuel Pablo Zuniga-Pflucker

President and Chief Executive Officer

[e-mail]

T: [phone]

Celicourt Communications

Mark Antelme / Jimmy Lea

[e-mail]

T : 44 (0) 208 434 2643

Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated & Financial Adviser)

James Spinney / Ritchie Balmer

T: 44 (0) 207 409 3494

Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited (Joint Broker)

Callum Stewart / Simon Mensley / Ashton Clanfield

Tel: [phone]

Auctus Advisors LLP (Joint Broker)

Jonathan Wright / Rupert Holdsworth Hunt / Harry Baker

T: [phone]

READER ADVISORIES

 

FORWARD‐LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains certain statements that may be deemed to be forward‐looking statements.  Such statements relate to possible future events, including, but not limited to: PetroTal's business strategy, objectives, strength and focus; anticipated future production and production capacity; the Company's ability to remain operating in accordance with developing public health efforts to contain COVID-19; future development and growth prospects; and the timing of the AGM.  All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward‐looking statements.  Forward‐ looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "estimate", "potential", "will", "should", "continue", "may", "objective" and similar expressions.  The forward‐looking statements are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the Company, including, but not limited to, expectations and assumptions concerning the ability of existing infrastructure to deliver production and the anticipated capital expenditures associated therewith, reservoir characteristics, recovery factor, exploration upside, prevailing commodity prices and the actual prices received for PetroTal's products, the availability and performance of drilling rigs, facilities, pipelines, inventory and barge storage capacity, other oilfield services and skilled labour, royalty regimes and exchange rates, the application of regulatory and licensing requirements, the accuracy of PetroTal's geological interpretation of its drilling and land opportunities, current legislation, receipt of required regulatory approval, the success of future drilling and development activities, the performance of new wells, the Company's growth strategy, general economic conditions and availability of required equipment and services.  Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward‐looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward‐looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct.  Since forward‐looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties.  Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks.  These include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general (e. g. , operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses; and health, safety and environmental risks), commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, legal, political and economic instability in Peru, access to transportation routes and markets for the Company's production, changes in legislation affecting the oil and gas industry and uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures.  In addition, the Company cautions that current global uncertainty with respect to the spread of the COVID-19 virus and its effect on the broader global economy may have a significant negative effect on the Company. While the precise impact of the COVID-19 virus on the Company remains unknown, rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus may continue to have a material adverse effect on global economic activity, and may continue to result in volatility and disruption to global supply chains, operations, mobility of people and the financial markets, which could affect interest rates, credit ratings, credit risk, inflation, business, financial conditions, results of operations and other factors relevant to the Company. Please refer to the risk factors identified in the Company's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2019 and management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2020 which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.  The forward‐looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward‐looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

FOFI DISCLOSURE: This press release contains future‐oriented financial information and financial outlook information (collectively, "FOFI") about PetroTal's prospective results of operations, production, production storage capacity, royalties and components thereof, all of which are subject to the same assumptions, risk factors, limitations and qualifications as set forth in the above paragraphs.  FOFI contained in this press release was approved by management as of the date of this press release and was included for the purpose of providing further information about PetroTal's anticipated future business operations.  PetroTal disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any FOFI contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required pursuant to applicable law.  Readers are cautioned that the FOFI contained in this press release should not be used for purposes other than for which it is disclosed herein.  All FOFI contained in this press release complies with the requirements of Canadian securities legislation, including Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 51‐101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities.

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 press release.

 

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