PetroMagdalena Energy Announces Copa B-1 Discovery, An Update On Exploration Drilling, and Senior Notes and Warrants Now Trading

TORONTO, Sept. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - PetroMagdalena Energy Corp. (TSXV: PMD) is pleased to announce that it has discovered a new light oilfield with the Copa B-1 exploration well, with the well  testing 1,045 bopd of 39.3 degrees API light oil over the initial 3-day production test. This represents 597 bopd gross working interest share for the Company.

Luciano Biondi, Chief Executive Officer of PetroMagdalena stated, "I am excited as this has a direct impact on our bottom line and follows directly after our Petirrojo-1 discovery, which has produced at an average of 1,831 bopd over the past 20 days. This is a very positive drilling result as it significantly improves the potential of the remaining exploration acreage on the Copa trend in the Cubiro block, our core producing asset in Colombia, and the rig is now moving to spud the Copa AS-1 exploration well."

Located in the Cubiro Block of the Llanos Basin, the Copa B-1 well, in which the Company holds a 57% working interest, was spudded on August 18, 2011 and directionally drilled to a total depth of 6,862 feet measured depth ("MD"). The top of the C5 and C3 Carbonera sections were encountered at depths of 5,251 feet (MD) and 5,045 feet (MD), respectively. Well logs indicate a total of 41 feet of net oil sand, 24 feet in three C5 sands, and 17 feet in two C3 sands.  Porosities range from 24% to 28% in the C5 and 27% to 29% in the C3 sands.  After perforating 17 feet in the two lower C5 sands and installing an electric submersible pump ("ESP"), the well produced at an average rate of 1,067 bopd of 39.3 degrees API oil over the latest 24-hour period at a BS&W of 0.9% and a downhole pump intake pressure of 1623 psi, a 23.2% drawdown. The well testing program is ongoing and final results will be provided.

Based on seismic interpretations, the accumulation discovered by Copa B-1 is a 1.3 kilometre-long structure with an estimated closure of 140 acres, corresponding to the typical exploration play in the Llanos Basin. The Copa B structure is on trend with the Company's Copa Field, 4 kilometres to the north, which was brought on production last year with the Copa-1 well, which was completed in two C5 sands from the same stratigraphic level as the ones tested in Copa B-1 well, and has produced 200,000 barrels of 40 degrees API oil over the past 16 months.

In Cubiro Block C, the Company is currently moving the drilling rig to drill the Copa AS-1 exploration well from the same operating pad with a target total depth of 7,716 feet (MD). Copa AS-1 will test a similar structure as Copa B, on trend with the Copa Field and immediately north of the Copa B discovery. Once the drilling of the Copa AS-1 well is terminated, a work over rig will be mobilized to test this well and the rest of the C5 and C3 sands penetrated by the Copa B-1 well.

PETIRROJO

The Petirrojo-1 discovery has produced at an average rate of 1,831 bopd (Company share, 1,282 bopd before royalties) over the past 20 days with a sustained pump intake pressure.

TOPOYACO

On August 31, 2011, Trayectoria Oil & Gas, the operator for the Topoyaco Block, spudded the Yaraqui-1X well in the central part of the block. The well is planned to reach a total depth of 10,509 feet MD, or 9,402 feet true vertical depth (TVD), or 8,484 feet TVDSS, and is targeting the Cretaceous Villeta and Caballos formations in a sub-thrust structure called Prospect "D". This prospect is a sub-thrust structure independent from previously drilled structures "B" and "C" in the block.  Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp. recently announced that preliminary prospective resources (best estimate) for Prospect "D" are 51 MMbbls.

As previously announced, Pacific Rubiales has requested the approval of the ANH to become the operator of the Topoyaco Block, which approval remains pending.

SENIOR SECURED SERIES A NOTES AND ACCOMPANYING WARRANTS

On September 8, 2011, 31,050 senior secured series A notes and 1,330,714 share purchase warrants, issued pursuant to the Company's debt financing of C$31,050,000 that closed on May 5, 2011, began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbols "PMD.DB" and "PMD.WT", respectively.

PetroMagdalena is a Canadian-based oil and gas exploration and production company, with working interests in 19 properties in five basins in Colombia. Further information can be obtained by visiting our website at www.petromagdalena.com.

All monetary amounts in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated. This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of PetroMagdalena. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to estimated production and reserve life of the various oil and gas projects of PetroMagdalena; the estimation of oil and gas reserves; the realization of oil and gas reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production; costs of production; success of exploration activities; and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of PetroMagdalena and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include changes in market conditions, risks relating to international operations, fluctuating oil and gas prices and currency exchange rates, changes in project parameters, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other risks of the oil and gas industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated. Although PetroMagdalena has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. PetroMagdalena undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither 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 news release.

SOURCE PetroMagdalena Energy Corp.