Petrolia Receives License to Drill in Haldimand

RIMOUSKI, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - Dec. 13, 2011) - Pétrolia (TSX VENTURE:PEA) is pleased to confirm that the Government of Quebec has granted the company a license to drill a third well at the Haldimand oilfield. Drilling at the well site should begin as the suitable equipment will be available. This will be a horizontal well, located over an area of 9 km², with recoverable resources estimated at nearly eight million barrels.

The horizontal trajectory of the well has been designed to intercept a network of natural fractures in the reservoir. These fractures, identified through the intensive work of Pétrolia and Québénergie in recent months, explain the production levels at the Haldimand No.1 well. According to Pétrolia's President, "with this advanced level of knowledge about the reservoir we can now anticipate commercial oil production that could justify the submission of an application for a production lease."

The well will target the sandstones of the York River Formation and it will not require any stimulation operations. The well is, therefore, not subject to the constraints stemming from the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) program launched by the Quebec government last spring. The granting of this drilling license also confirms that no moratorium exists on conventional oil projects in Quebec.

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 53.8 million 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 Pétrolia 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 Pétrolia. Actual events or results could be significantly different. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Pétrolia does not intend and undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.