Gran Tierra Energy temporarily reduces production operations in Putumayo basin of Colombia in response to pipeline disruption

CALGARY, July 16  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (NYSE Amex: GTE, TSX: GTE), a company focused on oil exploration and production in South America, today announced that it has temporarily reduced production operations in the Putumayo basin in southern Colombia in response to a disruption to the Ecopetrol-operated Trans Andean Pipeline west of Orito on July 10, 2009.

"Ecopetrol has informed us that repairs are expected to take between one and two weeks," said Dana Coffield, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gran Tierra Energy. "We will continue producing at reduced levels utilizing trucking capacity until repairs are completed. We expect to be able to return to normal production levels immediately following the completion of repairs."

Gran Tierra Energy expects to maintain Colombian production levels at approximately 2,000 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) net after royalty utilizing existing trucking capacity during the repair period. Additional oil transportation alternatives are currently being assessed.

The suspension of production operations has had no impact on drilling operations. Drilling of Costayaco-9 will commence today.

About Gran Tierra Energy Inc.

Gran Tierra Energy Inc. is an international oil and gas exploration and production company, headquartered in Calgary, Canada, incorporated in the United States, trading on the NYSE Amex Exchange (GTE) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (GTE), and operating in South America. Gran Tierra Energy holds interests in producing and prospective properties in Argentina, Colombia and Peru. Gran Tierra Energy has a strategy that focuses on establishing a portfolio of producing properties, plus production enhancement and exploration opportunities to provide a base for future growth. Additional information concerning Gran Tierra Energy is available at http://www.grantierra.com/.

Forward Looking Statements:

The statements in this news release regarding Gran Tierra Energy's belief that repairs will be completed in one to two weeks, that Gran Tierra will continue producing at reduced levels of approximately 2,000 BOPD utilizing trucking capacity until repairs are completed, and that production will resume immediately following the completion of repairs, are forward looking statements or financial outlook ("forward-looking statements") under the meaning of applicable securities laws, including Canadian Securities Administrators' National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause the results or outcomes discussed herein to differ materially from that indicated by the forward-looking statements, including, among others: Gran Tierra Energy's operations are located in South America, and unexpected problems can arise due to guerilla activity, technical difficulties and operational difficulties which impact its testing and drilling operations and the production, transport or sale of its products; geographic, political and weather conditions can impact testing and drilling operations and the production, transport or sale of its products; trucking capacity may not be sustainable at the expected capacity due to unforeseen reasons,; and the risk that recent disruptions will continue longer than expected. Further information on potential factors that could affect Gran Tierra Energy are included in risks detailed from time to time in Gran Tierra Energy's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, without limitation, under the caption "Risk Factors" in Gran Tierra Energy's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 8, 2009. These filings are available on a Web site maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov/ and on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com/. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date of this document and Gran Tierra Energy disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. 

DATASOURCE: Gran Tierra Energy Inc.



CONTACT:  For media and investor inquiries please contact Thomas

McMillan, Equicom Group, [phone], [phone], 

Copyright