Porto Energy Corp. Reports Results for Third Quarter of Fiscal 2013

THE WOODLANDS, TX, July 30, 2013 /CNW/ - Porto Energy Corp., ("Porto" or the "Company") (TSXV:PEC), a company focused on oil and gas exploration, appraisal and development in Portugal, today announced its financial results for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2013. All amounts are stated in US dollars unless otherwise noted by C$ for Canadian dollars or € for Euros.

Selected Recent Highlights

The Company recently announced the following:

• Successfully negotiated the terms of its 2013 work program with the Portuguese government marking the successful conclusion of its 2012 work program;
  
  
• Completed drilling of the ALC-1 well with Petróleos de Portugal - Petrogal ("Galp") carrying Porto for 50% of the well costs. The well reached a total measured depth of approximately 3,000 meters and encountered a 300 metre gas column trapped below salt, but did not find sufficient reservoir sands to be a commercial success. The salt sealing mechanism was shown to be in place and the Presalt charge and migration was confirmed as the sands were found to be gas bearing.  Reservoir containment was also demonstrated since there was no breach.  All of which warrants the need for further exploration drilling; and
  
  
• Subsequent to quarter end, Galp exercised its option to become the operator of the Aljubarrota-3 concession, pursuant to the terms of the definitive farmout agreement signed by the two companies in June 2012.

"Transitioning the operatorship of the Aljubarrota-3 concession to Galp has improved our working capital position and will help us advance our 2013 work program." said Joseph Ash, President and CEO of Porto Energy Corp.

Financial Review
Three Months Ended May 31, 2013 Compared with the Three Months Ended May 31, 2012

Revenues

Revenue during the three months ended May 31, 2013 was $6,545 compared with $1,604 for the corresponding period ended May 31, 2012.  Revenue consists primarily of interest income from cash on hand.  The Company has not yet established commercial oil and gas production from its Concessions. As a result, its sources of revenue are not of a recurring consistent nature.

General and Administrative Expense ("G&A")

G&A expense decreased by $250,935 from $1,050,042 for the three months ended May 31, 2012 to $799,107 for the corresponding period in 2013.  The decrease in G&A expense for the three months ended May 31, 2013 was primarily a result of lower consulting and professional fees, and reduced salaries and wages, partially offset by an increase in rent and other office expenses.  In general, the decrease in overall G&A is mainly as a result of implementing measures to cut costs to conserve capital.

Share-based Compensation

Share-based payments expense for the three months ended May 31, 2013 was $10,435, compared with $206,674 for the three months ended May 31, 2012.  Share-based payment expense during the three months ended May 31, 2013 was due to the graded vesting of 11,600,000 stock options granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company in August 2011, of which 950,000 options expired due to the Company's reorganization efforts (not including the 598,208 options granted prior to August 2011 that expired as a result of the Company's reorganization efforts), the graded vesting of the October 2011 grant of 900,000 options to acquire common shares of the Company to certain contract personnel hired on full time, the graded vesting of the 3,110,000 stock options granted in December 2011 (one-half of which vested immediately), and the vesting of the 1,000,000 options to acquire common shares in August 2012 that were previously granted to a consultant of the Company.

Share-based payment expense during the three months ended May 31, 2012 was due to the graded vesting of 11,600,000 stock options granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company in August 2011, of which 950,000 options expired due to employment terminations, and the graded vesting of the October 2011 grant of 900,000 options to acquire common shares of the Company previously granted to certain contract personnel hired on full time.

There are now options outstanding to purchase a total of 15,660,000 common shares of the Company.

Finance Cost

Finance cost for the three months ended May 31, 2013 was $98 compared with $111 for the comparative period in 2012.  Finance cost includes the non-cash accretion of decommissioning obligations for future abandonment costs for prior wells drilled in Portugal for the period.

Foreign Exchange (Gain)/Loss

Foreign currency translation gains for the three months ended May 31, 2013 were $367,477 in comparison to translation losses of $73,918 in the comparative period for 2012.  The foreign currency unrealized gains and losses reflect the changing value of the Canadian dollar/Euro versus the US dollar in which the Company maintains its accounts at the respective period ends.  The current period difference is mainly as a result of the collection of most of the Company's outstanding value-added tax receivable.

Interest Expense

Interest expenses for the three month periods ended May 31, 2013 was $573 compared to no interest expense being incurred for the three months ended May 31, 2012.  Interest expense reflects the interest incurred on outstanding payables.

Depreciation

Depreciation expense of $9,052 was recorded during the three months ended May 31, 2013 compared with $9,053 during the comparative period in 2012.  These amounts are largely due to the depreciation of furniture and fixtures.

Impairment on Exploration and Evaluation Assets

For the three months ended May 31, 2013 an additional impairment provision of $171,024 was recorded based on the permanent impairment indicators present as of November 30, 2012. No impairment was recorded during the three months ended May 31, 2012.

Net Loss Before Income Taxes and Gain on Settlement of Debt

The Company recorded net losses for the three months ended May 31, 2013 of $616,267, compared with $1,508,170 for the comparative period in 2012.  As the Company is in the exploration phase of operations, there are currently no oil and natural gas producing properties generating revenues.  The net loss for the 2012 period was primarily due to the impairment of exploration and evaluation assets. The Company's net losses for these periods were additionally impacted by general and administrative expenses including salaries, office costs and travel costs in addition to professional fees and share-based payments.  The fair value of the share-based payments was a non-cash expense in these periods.

Income Taxes

The Company recorded income taxes of $23,322 on a net loss before income tax of $616,267 for the three months ended May 31, 2013. During the corresponding period ended May 31, 2012 the Company recorded an income tax net benefit of $42,581, on a net loss before income tax of $1,508,170. The difference between the effective tax rate recognized and the blended statutory rates of its various taxing jurisdictions in which the Company operates is primarily due to it applying a valuation allowance for the full amount of its gross future tax asset as it believes, based on the weight of available evidence, that it is more likely than not that the future tax asset will not be realized prior to the expiration of net operating loss carryforwards in various amounts at 2026 through 2032.  Net operating loss carry forwards as of May 31, 2013 were approximately $37.3 million.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The Company recorded a comprehensive loss for the three months ended May 31, 2013 of $639,589 compared with a comprehensive loss of $1,465,589 for the corresponding period ended May 31, 2012.  The difference between net loss and comprehensive loss between the periods is primarily due to the impairment on the exploration and evaluation assets recorded during the three months ended November 30, 2012.

Nine Months Ended May 31, 2013 Compared with the Nine Months Ended May 31, 2012

Revenues

Revenue during the nine months ended May 31, 2013 was $7,013 compared with $15,785 for the corresponding period ended May 31, 2012.  Revenue consists primarily of interest income from cash on hand.  The Company has not yet established commercial oil and gas production from its Concessions.  As a result, its sources of revenue are not of a recurring consistent nature.

General and Administrative Expense ("G&A")

G&A expense decreased by $666,992 from $3,568,808 for the nine months ended May 31, 2012 to $2,901,816 for the corresponding period in 2013.  The decrease in G&A expense for the nine months ended May 31, 2013 was primarily a result of a decrease in salaries and wages, and lower consulting and professional fees.  In general, the decrease in overall G&A is mainly as a result of implementing measures to cut costs to conserve capital.

Share-based Compensation

Share-based payments expense for the nine months ended May 31, 2013 was $65,785, compared with $1,201,705 for the nine months ended May 31, 2012.  Share-based payment expense during the nine months ended May 31, 2013 was due to the graded vesting of 11,600,000 stock options granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company in August 2011, of which 950,000 options expired due to the Company's reorganization efforts (not including the 598,208 options granted prior to August 2011 that expired as a result of the Company's reorganization efforts), the graded vesting of the October 2011 grant of 900,000 options to acquire common shares of the Company to certain contract personnel hired on full time, the graded vesting of the 3,110,000 stock options granted in December 2011 (one-half of which vested immediately) and the vesting of the 1,000,000 options to acquire common shares in August 2012 that were previously granted to a consultant of the Company.

Share-based payment expense during the nine months ended May 31, 2012 was due to the graded vesting of 11,600,000 stock options granted to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company in August 2011, of which 950,000 options expired due to employment terminations, and the graded vesting of the October 2011 grant of 900,000 options to acquire common shares of the Company previously granted to certain contract personnel hired on full time.

There are now options outstanding to purchase a total of 15,660,000 common shares of the Company.

Finance Cost

Finance cost for the nine months ended May 31, 2013 was $762 compared with $487 for the comparative period in 2012.  Finance cost includes the non-cash accretion of decommissioning obligations for future abandonment costs for prior wells drilled in Portugal for the period.

Interest Expense

Interest expense for the nine months ended May 31, 2013 was $3,606 compared with $33 for the comparative period in 2012.  Interest expense reflects the interest incurred on outstanding payables.

Foreign Exchange (Gain)/Loss

Foreign currency translation gains for the nine months ended May 31, 2013 were $272,831 in comparison to translation losses of $10,336 in the comparative period for 2012.  The foreign currency unrealized gains and losses reflect the changing value of the Canadian dollar/Euro versus the US dollar in which the Company maintains its accounts at the respective period ends.  The current period difference is mainly as a result of the collection of most of the Company's outstanding value-added tax receivable.

Depreciation

Depreciation expense of $27,156 was recorded during the nine months ended May 31, 2013 compared with $27,779 during the comparative period in 2012.  These amounts are largely due to the depreciation of furniture and fixtures.

Impairment on Exploration and Evaluation Assets

Impairments of $20,706,024 were recorded during the nine months ended May 31, 2013 and of $23,594,000 during the nine months ended May 31, 2012 as a result of an impairment review on the carrying value of the exploration and evaluation assets. The impairment amount was based on comparing the carrying value of the assets using the greater of their value in use or the fair market value.

For the nine months ended May 31, 2013 the value in use was determined based on a third party evaluation report of Porto's resources using a discount rate of 26%. The value in use was significantly impacted due to the increased risks associated with the funding requirements necessary to realize and generate future cash flows from all of the Cash Generating Units ("CGU's") within the exploration and evaluation assets. The fair market value of the assets was based on the Company's closing market price of its common stock as of November 30, 2012, adjusted for net working capital items. As a result, it was determined that under fair market value, there was an impairment on the carrying value of all of the CGU's which was recorded against each CGU proportionately.

For the nine months ended May 31, 2012 the impairment review was conducted by comparing the carrying value of the Carbonates cash generating unit assets to the estimated recoverable amount of these assets using value in use. Value in use is determined based on a third party evaluation report of the Company's resources using a discount rate of 16%, which approximates the weighted average cost of capital for the Company as well as taking into consideration current market conditions.

Net Loss Before Income Taxes and Gain on Settlement of Debt

The Company recorded net losses for the nine months ended May 31, 2013 of $23,425,305 compared with $28,557,339 for the comparative period in 2012.  As the Company is in the exploration phase of operations, there are currently no oil and natural gas producing properties generating revenues.  The net losses for the 2013 and 2012 periods were primarily due to the impairment of exploration and evaluation assets. The Company's net losses for these periods were additionally impacted by general and administrative expenses including salaries, office costs and travel costs in addition to professional fees and share-based payments.  The fair value of the share-based payments was a non-cash expense in these periods.

Income Taxes

The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $8,124,853 on a net loss before income tax of $23,425,305 for the nine months ended May 31, 2013. During the corresponding period ended May 31, 2012 the Company recorded an income tax expense of $21,966, on a net loss before income tax of $28,557,339. The income tax benefit during the nine months ended May 31, 2013 was primarily due to the impairment loss of $20,706,024, which reduced the book value of the Company's assets below the associated tax book value. As a result, the associated deferred tax liability pool is reversed as the presumption of future taxable income being generated from these assets is no longer valid. The difference between the effective tax rate recognized and the blended statutory rates of its various taxing jurisdictions in which the Company operates is primarily due to it applying a valuation allowance for the full amount of its gross future tax asset as it believes, based on the weight of available evidence, that it is more likely than not that the future tax asset will not be realized prior to the expiration of net operating loss carryforwards in various amounts at 2026 through 2032.  Net operating loss carry forwards as of May 31, 2013 were approximately $37.3 million.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The Company recorded a comprehensive loss for the nine months ended May 31, 2013 of $15,300,452, compared with a comprehensive loss of $28,579,305 for the corresponding period ended May 31, 2012.  The difference between net loss and comprehensive loss between the periods is primarily due to the impairment on the exploration and evaluation assets recorded during the periods.

Operational Review and Outlook

Lias Interval

(Aljubarrota-3 - 50% Working Interest, Zambujal - 100% Working Interest, Cabo Mondego-2 - 100% Working Interest and São Pedro de Muel-2 - 100% Working Interest)

Sorgenia and Rag Joint Venture Activity

The Company along with its former joint venture partners, Sorgenia and Rag, concluded a 23 well stratigraphic drilling program in the third calendar quarter of 2012 to jointly evaluate the unconventional resource potential of the Lower Jurassic ("Lias") stratigraphic interval. The cores show encouraging results with the completion of rock mechanics and geochemical analysis.  The work that has been performed to date has enabled the Company to book 271.4 MMboe additional unrisked P50 resources in its December 2012 resource update, a 284% increase over prior estimates.  In April 2013, Sorgenia and Rag elected not to proceed into the second phase of the work program as defined under the terms of the original Farmout Agreement dated May 31, 2012 as they were unable to come to an agreement on financial terms with the Company.  As a result, the farm-in parties' acreage interest reverted back to the Company in all concessions except for their Lias Interest in the Aljubarrota-3 concession in which case the interests reverted evenly back to both the Company and Galp.

Presalt Prospect

(Aljubarrota-3 - 50% Working Interest and Torres Vedras-3 - 100% Working Interest)

Farmout Agreement

In June 2012, the Company entered into a definitive farmout agreement (the "Agreement") with Galp.  Galp agreed to pay the Company $4.3 million in back costs in addition to their portion of the drilling of the Alcobaca #1 ("ALC-1") well, which cost them approximately $5.4 million, to earn 50% of the Company's rights on the Aljuabarrota-3 concession, comprising approximately 300,000 acres, onshore Portugal.  The payment of the $4.3 million was subject to conditions precedent, which required that the assignment of interest be approved by the Portuguese oil and gas authority, DPEP.  Additionally, upon reaching total depth in the ALC-1 well and within six months thereafter, Galp was given the option to acquire a 25% working interest in each of the Company's other concessions in exchange for payments totaling no more than 25% of the Company's sunk costs in each concession.  Galp was also given the option to become operator of the Aljubarrota concession once the ALC-1 well had been completed.

The approval of the assignment of interest to Galp and the receipt of the $4.3 million occurred in September 2012 and was offset against the Company's exploration and evaluation asset basis.  The six month option to acquire a 25% interest in each of the Company's other concessions was allowed to expire on April 30, 2013.  Galp, however, exercised its option to become operator in June 2013 and both Galp and the Company are currently working through the transfer process with the Portuguese government.

Drilling Results

The Company commenced the drilling of the ALC-1, its first Presalt well in its Aljubarrota-3 concession onshore Portugal under its joint venture with Galp in late August 2012. Using interpreted 3-D seismic data acquired from the 160 km² Aljubarrota 3-D seismic survey completed in 2011, the ALC-1 well targeted a large mapped Triassic four-way closure within the Presalt sandstones beneath the gas charged Lower Jurassic ("Lias") stratigraphic interval and is approximately 800 meters high to the ALJ-2 well.  Additional shallower targets had also been identified within the mapped four-way closure.  The ALC-1 well was drilled to a total depth of approximately 3,000 meters and drilling and testing took approximately 60 days to complete following the setting of a liner per regulatory requirements.  The well penetrated approximately 50 net meters of sand and saw good reservoir properties in several intervals, but much of the sands were near the base of the trapped gas column and as such, were deemed non-commercial.  The well was plugged and abandoned and the rig was released in December 2012.  The total gross well cost was approximately $10.7 million for which Galp was responsible for half, or approximately $5.4 million.

The salt sealing mechanism was shown to be in place and the Presalt charge and migration was confirmed as the sands were found to be gas bearing.  Reservoir containment was also demonstrated since there was no breach.  All of these factors demonstrated to the partnership that further exploration drilling is necessary in the basin.  The Company is continuing technical discussions with Galp regarding the best path forward.  As a result, the Company has turned its near term focus to its Lias unconventional resource oil play while Porto and Galp evaluate other parts of the basin within the Aljubarrota-3 concession where the Presalt is potentially productive.

Drilling Outlook

2013 Work Program

The 2013 well program, which consists of drilling one deep well (terminal depth greater than 3,000 metres) and possibly one horizontal well, contingent upon the results of the deep well, both within the Lias interval; drilling up to seven stratigraphic wells to advance the exploration and development of the Lias stratigraphic interval; the acquisition of 150 km of 2-D  seismic data on shore that may also partially benefit the offshore prospects; and further acquisition and analysis of geologic data to expand the Company's understanding of the basin in general, was approved by DPEP in June 2013. Based on the working interests of the Company and the obligations of its joint venture partner as set out in the farmout agreement and governed by the joint operating agreement, the Company anticipates its portion of the costs to be between $7.1 million and $11.2 million depending on the results of the initial Presalt well and whether or not the drilling of a horizontal well is warranted.  The work program is expected to be funded through its joint venturing efforts.  Approval of the 2013 program by DPEP successfully concludes the Company's 2012 drilling program requirements.

To view the Company's Quarter End May 31, 2013 Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, related Notes to the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, and Management's Discussion and Analysis, please see the Company's quarterly filings which will be available on www.sedar.com and at www.portoenergy.com.

About Porto Energy Corp.

Porto Energy Corp. is an international oil and gas company engaged in the exploration of crude oil and natural gas in Portugal, including the appraisal of a gas discovery.  Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Mohave Oil And Gas Corporation (a Texas corporation with branch offices in Portugal), the Company holds working interests in seven concessions in Portugal's Lusitanian Basin totaling 1.3 million net acres. Through its exploration efforts to date, the Company has identified seven major exploration trends over its concessions and generated more than 45 prospects and leads. Porto Energy's shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol "PEC". For more information on Porto Energy visit www.portoenergy.com.

Cautionary Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements.  These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance.  All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements.  The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "predict" and "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon.  These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are contained in this press release, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

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 release.

SOURCE: Porto Energy Corp.

Heath Cleaver - Chief Financial Officer
Phone: [phone]