Santa Maria Announces Grant of Options


CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - July 24, 2012) - Santa Maria Petroleum Inc. (formerly Quetzal Energy Ltd.) ("Santa Maria" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:SMQ) announces that it has granted stock options ("Options") to purchase an aggregate of 2,355,000 common shares of the Company at a price of $0.16 per share to certain eligible participants. The 2,355,000 Options are exercisable for a period of five years from the date of grant and vest as to one-third on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date grant. As of the date hereof, the Company has granted Options to purchase an aggregate of 4,503,759 common shares of the Company.

About Santa Maria Petroleum Inc.

Santa Maria is a junior oil and gas company with private participating interests in 4 blocks in the Llanos Basin of Colombia.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contact Information:

Santa Maria Petroleum Inc.
Ron MacMicken
President & Chief Executive Officer
(647) 476-7572
ron@quetzalenergy.com