Porto Energy Spuds the Alcobaça #1 (ALC-1) Presalt Well with its Joint Venture Partner Galp

THE WOODLANDS, TX, Aug. 30, 2012 /CNW/ - Porto Energy Corp., ("Porto" or the "Company") (TSXV:PEC), a company focused on oil and gas exploration, appraisal and development in Portugal, is pleased to announce that it has commenced the drilling of the Alcobaça #1 ("ALC-1") Presalt well in its Aljubarrota-3 concession onshore Portugal under its joint venture ("JV") with Petróleos de Portugal - Petrogal ("Galp").

The ALC-1 well is the Company's first Presalt well and is expected to be drilled to a total depth of approximately 3,000 meters. Using interpreted 3-D seismic data, the ALC-1 well is targeting a mapped four-way closure approximately 800 meters high to the ALJ-2 well.  Drilling and testing is estimated to take between 45 and 55 days to complete at a total anticipated gross well cost, not including completion and hook-up costs, of approximately $7.0 million.  Galp is carrying Porto on 50% of the costs associated with the drilling of this well.

"Following the conclusion of our JV with Galp in June 2012, we are excited about the spudding of this Presalt well," said Joseph Ash, President and CEO of Porto.  "This Presalt target has an NI51-101 resource best estimate (P50) of 588 BCF gross (294 BCF net) unrisked prospective resources by Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. which makes this an extremely important project for us."

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 approximately 1.9 million net acres. Through its exploration efforts to date, the Company has identified seven major exploration trends over its concessions including unconventional oil and gas resource plays as well as conventional oil and gas targets. 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

No proved, probable or possible reserves have been assigned by the Company at this time. Undiscovered resources are those quantities of oil and gas estimated on a given date to be contained in accumulations yet to be discovered. Estimates of resources always involve uncertainty, and the degree of uncertainty can vary widely between accumulations/projects and over the life of a project. There is no certainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the resources.

Estimates with respect to resources that may be developed and produced in the future are often based upon volumetric calculations, probabilistic methods and upon analogy to similar types of resources, rather than upon actual production history. Estimates based on these methods generally are less reliable than those based on actual production history. Subsequent evaluation of the same resources based upon production history will result in variations, which may be material, in the estimated resources. Resource estimates may require revision based on actual production experience.

Prospective resources are those quantities of petroleum estimated, as of a given date, to be potentially recoverable from undiscovered accumulations by application of future development projects.

Best Estimate is considered to be the best estimate of the quantity that will actually be recovered. It is equally likely that the actual remaining quantities recovered will be greater or less than the best estimate. Using probabilistic methods, there should be at least a 50 percent probability (P50) that the quantities actually recovered will equal or exceed the best estimate.

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.

Porto Energy Corp.
Heath Cleaver - Chief Financial Officer
Phone: [phone]