Sintana Energy Provides Flow Test Update For Dorados-1X Well In Colombia

TORONTO, Jan. 7, 2013 /CNW/ - Sintana Energy Inc. (TSX-V: SNN) ("Sintana" or the "Company") announces that it has been notified by the Operator of the Talora Block, Petrodorado Energy Ltd. (TSX-V: PDQ) ("Petrodorado" or the "Operator"), that the Dorados-1X exploration well, which commenced drilling operations on July 31, 2012, has completed the previously reported flow test program. The Company has an undivided 30% private participation interest in the 58,570 acre Talora Block, which is located in Colombia's prolific Magdalena Basin.

The original planned total depth for the well by the Operator was 9,500 feet (MD) with the Cretaceous Caballos and Tetuan (Albian/Aptian) formations being the primary objectives. While drilling in the Cretaceous Cenomanian section above these objectives, the well encountered a younger and exceptionally thick sand-prone sequence which has never previously been reported in the basin. This sand-prone section, currently named the "Dorados Sands," was encountered from about 5,160 feet (MD) to below 7,000 feet, or around 1,850 feet thick (gross). While drilling, this section (5,160 to 6,035 feet) yielded excellent wet gas and oil shows as measured by both Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy. The Economic basement was reached much higher than the prognosis at 7,282 feet (MD), without seeing the Tetuan or Caballos formations and as such, the partnership decided to terminate drilling operations at this depth on September 29, 2012 with the forward plan to log and then production test the extensive "Dorados Sands."

Due to the deteriorating hole conditions, tool sticking and high levels of mud invasion (7 lost circulation events) it was operationally impossible to run an adequate logging program. With limited data, however, it was noted that the targeted reservoir section coincides with the highest log resistivities (through casing logs), including zones with fair to good porosities (e.g. 15%). All these indicators, log resistivities, oil shows, hydrocarbon components (C1 through C9), hydrocarbon ratios, helium and other trace element relationships are all consistent with a thick hydrocarbon column. In addition, and very importantly, all these indicators terminate abruptly, still within the sand-prone section, at around 6,030 to 6,050 feet (as stated above), forming compelling evidence of a basal Water Contact with a hydrocarbon column above.

In mid-November a program to flow test up to six (6) sandstone intervals was initiated with a completion and testing rig. Due to significant formation damage which occurred during drilling operations, only a limited amount of additional reservoir data was obtained. The test results confirm that the sand section is a low-pressure reservoir system and that oil has been emulsified. Geochemical lab analysis from production tests proved that this emulsion contains viable medium gravity crude oil with 20° API. This provides incontrovertible evidence regarding the severity of the mud invasion and a valid reason as to why certain sandstone intervals with good porosities did not flow during testing. It is important to note that these low-pressure reservoirs are common in this part of the Basin, including the 126-million barrel Guando Field located only 40 kilometers to SE of the Dorados-1X well.

Despite the formation damage incurred in the Dorados-1X wellbore, the underlying conclusion is very encouraging. The partners have concluded that a new undamaged wellbore is needed (sidetrack or twin well) to further evaluate the Dorados structure, a large thrust anticline in which the Dorados-1X well data now reveals this new thick sandstone reservoir with significant recoverable hydrocarbons potential. Seismic mapping yields structural closure, 4-way and 3-way closure against the main thrust fault, in the range of 2,900 to possibly over 8,000 acres with estimated net reservoir thickness based on limited data in the range of 200 feet and possibly much greater.

ABOUT SINTANA ENERGY

The Company is primarily engaged in petroleum and natural gas exploration and development activities in Colombia and Peru. The Company's exploration strategy is to acquire, explore, develop and produce superior quality assets with significant reserve potential. The Company currently holds a 25% interest in the 175,000 acre Bayovar Block XXVII in the Sechura Basin, Peru. The Company's private participation interests in Colombia include 30% in 58,570 acres in the Talora Block and 30% in 272,021 acres in the COR-39 & COR-11 Blocks in the Upper Magdalena Basin. In the Middle Magdalena Basin, it has private participation interests of 100% in the conventional formations, and 30% (carried) in the unconventional formations, in the 43,158 acre VMM-37 Block and 25% (carried) in the 154,909 acre VMM-4 and 59,522 acre VMM-15 Blocks. In the Llanos Basin, the company has a carried 25% private participation interest in the 111,624 acre LLA-18 Block. These interests are subject to all applicable regulatory and governmental approvals, including those of Colombia's National Hydrocarbon Agency (ANH). The Company continues to evaluate a portfolio of exploration opportunities in South America.

On behalf of Sintana Energy

"Doug Manner"
Chief Executive Officer

For additional information or to receive timely updates about Sintana's South America projects and recent corporate activities please visit the Company's website at www.sintanaenergy.com or email [email protected]

Corporate Contact:	Corporate Contact:
Douglas Manner	Sean Austin
Chief Executive Officer	Vice President
Tel: [phone]	Tel: [phone]

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. Forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of material factors, expectations or assumptions of Sintana which have been used to develop such statements and information but which may prove to be incorrect. Although Sintana believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements as Sintana can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. In addition to other factors and assumptions which may be identified herein, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: that Sintana will continue to conduct its operations in a manner consistent with past operations; results from drilling activities; the accuracy of the estimates of Sintana's resource volumes and interpretations of drilling activity results; availability of financing and/or cash flow to fund Sintana's current and future plans and expenditures; the impact of increasing competition; the general stability of the economic and political environment in which Sintana operates; the general continuance of current industry conditions; the timely receipt of any required regulatory approvals; the ability of Sintana to obtain qualified staff, equipment and services in a timely and cost efficient manner; the ability of the operator of the projects in which Sintana has an interest in to operate the field in a safe, efficient and effective manner; future commodity prices; currency, exchange and interest rates; regulatory framework regarding royalties, taxes and environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which Sintana operates; and the ability of Sintana to successfully market its oil and natural gas products. The forward-looking information and statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance and should not be unduly relied upon. Such information and statements, including the assumptions made in respect thereof, 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 information or statements including, without limitation: risks associated with the uncertainty of exploration results and estimates, inaccurate estimation of Sintana's oil and gas resource volumes, currency fluctuations, the uncertainty of conducting operations under a foreign regime, exploration risk, the uncertainty of obtaining all applicable regulatory approvals, the availability of labour and equipment, the fluctuating prices of oil and natural gas, the availability of financing and the Company's dependence on Sintana's management personnel, other participants in the property areas and certain other risks detailed from time-to-time in Sintana's public disclosure documents, (including, without limitation, those risks identified in this news release and Sintana's Annual Information Form). Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

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SOURCE: Sintana Energy Inc.