Petrolia: Bourque No. 1 Well Begins

RIMOUSKI, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - July 23, 2012) - Pétrolia (TSX VENTURE:PEA) announces that, in accordance with its business plan, drilling operations have started on well Bourque No. 1. To date, the well has reached a depth of 170 meter. This well is the first of the three wells which will be drilled in 2012. Located halfway between Murdochville and Grande-Vallée in Gaspesia, it should reach a depth of 3200 meters. This well will allow verification of the presence of oil in a barrier reef type structure, at the level of the West Point Formation. Drilling is carried out by Precision Drilling rig No. 501

As of Wednesday 25 July 2012, a new Internet site, dedicated to the Bourque project, will be online. The evolution of drilling operations will be visible there: www.bourque.petroliagaz.com

About Pétrolia

Pétrolia 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 Québec territory under lease. The leases, the majority of which are located on the Gaspé 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 Québec. Pétrolia has 66 585 750 shares issued and outstanding.