Tourmaline Oil Corp. Announces Deep Basin Acquisition and Reduces 2016 EP Budget

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Tourmaline Oil Corp. Announces Deep Basin Acquisition and Reduces 2016 EP Budget

CALGARY, AB--(Marketwired - February 02, 2016) - Tourmaline Oil Corp. (TSX: TOU) ("Tourmaline" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has acquired assets for approximately $183 million CDN in the Minehead-Edson-Ansell area of the Alberta Deep Basin, immediately adjacent to one of the Company's largest-producing complexes. The acquired assets are within one of the large Cretaceous Wilrich 'sweet spots' that the Company has identified through the 2014/15 drilling programs in the Deep Basin; the assets also have multiple additional development opportunities in the Notikewin and Falher C formations.

Current production from the assets is ranging between 4,500 and 5,000 boepd. Tourmaline plans to grow this production to the 7,500 boepd level in the second half of 2016 with significant further anticipated growth in 2017. The Company estimates it will add approximately 48 mmboe in new 2P reserves in 2016 through this acquisition with the currently-planned 2016 development program. Fully developed, the acquired assets are anticipated to add an estimated 66 mboe to the Company's 2P reserves over the next two years. Tourmaline is delivering some of its best Deep Basin results from this area; the Company has identified 117 top tier or sweet spot locations on the new lands. A Notikewin horizontal on immediately-adjacent Tourmaline lands, completed in December 2015, flowed at an average of 48 mmcfpd at a casing pressure of 3,300 psi on the first 12 days of in-line testing. The Company has identified multiple, seismically-defined follow-up Notikewin locations on the acquisition lands.

The production from the assets currently flows to the Hinton-Robb processing plant. Tourmaline plans to redirect this gas to the Company's three gas plants at Banshee-Edson-Ansell during the first half of 2016 through an existing gathering system associated with the assets. Redirecting the gas will reduce the operating costs of the new assets from approximately $6.25/boe to $3.25/boe.

To accommodate the acquisition, Tourmaline will reduce the current $1.1 billion 2016 EP Capital program by $175 million to $925 million. 2016 cash flow from the acquisition is estimated at between $30 and $35 million. The currently-planned 2016 Deep Basin drilling program will be modified to accommodate drilling of the highest potential subsurface targets on the acquired assets. The acquisition of the associated gathering system provides Tourmaline with additional infrastructure in the area saving a previously budgeted $12.0-15.0 million capital expenditure. Thus, in aggregate, the acquisition will not increase the overall 2016 capital program, exit debt levels, or the anticipated corporate debt to cash flow level. The acquisition provides upside to the current 2016 production forecast, particularly during the second half of the year. The Company will revisit the 2016 production and cash flow forecast during the second quarter and make appropriate adjustments at that time.

Reader Advisories

CURRENCY

All amounts in this news release are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "forecast", "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "could", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information. More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward-looking information concerning the benefits to the Company to be derived from the acquired assets including increased production, reserves, drilling locations and lower operating costs associated therewith, Tourmaline's plans and other aspects of its anticipated future operations, management focus, objectives, strategies, financial, operating and production results and business opportunities, including as at and for various future periods, anticipated petroleum and natural gas production, cash flows, capital spending, projected operating and drilling costs, drilling programs and the number of rigs to be operated for such purpose, the timing for facility expansions and facility start-up dates, tie-in of production, as well as Tourmaline's future drilling prospects and plans, including the quantity of future drilling locations in inventory, business strategy, future development and growth opportunities and prospects and asset base. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by Tourmaline, including expectations and assumptions concerning: prevailing and future commodity prices and currency exchange rates; applicable royalty rates and tax laws; interest rates; future well production rates and reserve volumes; operating costs; the timing of receipt of regulatory approvals; the performance of existing and future wells; the success obtained in drilling new wells; anticipated timing and results of capital expenditures; the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities; the timing, location and extent of future drilling operations; the successful completion of acquisitions and dispositions; the availability and cost of labour and services; the state of the economy and the exploration and production business; the availability and cost of financing; and ability to market and transport oil and natural gas successfully.

Statements relating to "reserves" are also deemed to be forward-looking statements, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the reserves described exist in the quantities predicted or estimated and that the reserves can be profitably produced in the future.

Although Tourmaline believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Tourmaline can give no assurances that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking information addresses future events and conditions, by its very nature it involves inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to: the risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general such as operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to reserves, production, costs and expenses; health, safety and environmental risks; commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations; interest rate fluctuations; marketing and transportation; loss of markets; environmental risks; competition; incorrect assessment of the value of acquisitions; failure to complete or realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions or dispositions; ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; failure to obtain required regulatory and other approvals; reliance on third parties; and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws, royalties and environmental regulations. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive.

Also included in this press release are estimates of Tourmaline's 2016 cash flow from the acquired assets and capital spending, which are based on the various assumptions as to production levels, including estimated average production of 200,000 boepd for 2016, capital expenditures, and other assumptions disclosed in this press release and including commodity price assumptions for natural gas (AECO - $3.25/mcf for 2016), and crude oil (WTI (US) - $62.50/bbl for 2016) and an exchange rate assumption of (US/CAD - $0.80 for 2016). To the extent any such estimate constitutes a financial outlook, it was approved by management and the Board of Directors of Tourmaline on February 2, 2016 and is included to provide readers with an understanding of the funding of Tourmaline's capital expenditure program in 2016 and readers are cautioned that the information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Additional information on these and other factors that could affect Tourmaline, or its operations or financial results, are included in the Company's most recently filed Management's Discussion and Analysis (See "Forward-Looking Statements" therein) , Annual Information Form (See "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements" therein) and other reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com) or Tourmaline's website (www.tourmalineoil.com).

The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof and Tourmaline undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless expressly required by applicable securities laws.

Additional Reader Advisories

BOE CONVERSIONS

Boes may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of 6 mcf:1 bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. As the value ratio between natural gas and crude oil based on the current prices of natural gas and crude oil is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a 6:1 conversion basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

PRODUCTION TESTS

Any references in this release to initial production rates are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons, however, such rates are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will continue to produce and decline thereafter and are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or ultimate recovery. While encouraging, readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating the aggregate production for the Company. Such rates are based on field estimates and may be based on limited data available at this time.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This press release includes references to a financial measure commonly used in the oil and gas industry, "cash flow", which does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("GAAP"). Accordingly, the Company's use of this term may not be comparable to similarly defined measures presented by other companies. Management uses the term "cash flow" for its own performance measures and to provide shareholders and potential investors with a measurement of the Company's ability to generate the cash necessary to fund a portion of its future growth expenditures or to repay debt. Readers are cautioned that the non-GAAP measures should not be construed as an alternative to net income determined in accordance with GAAP as an indication of the Company's performance. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" in the Company's most recently-filed Management's Discussion and Analysis for the definition and description of this term.

ESTIMATED DRILLING INVENTORY

This press release discloses drilling locations which are unbooked. Unbooked locations are internal estimates based on the Company's prospective acreage and an assumption as to the number of wells that can be drilled per section based on industry practice and internal review. Unbooked locations do not have attributed reserves or resources (including contingent and prospective). Unbooked locations have been identified by management as an estimation of the Company's multi-year drilling activities based on evaluation of applicable geologic, seismic, engineering, production and reserves information. There is no certainty that the Company will drill all unbooked drilling locations and, if drilled, there is no certainty that such locations will result in additional oil and gas reserves, resources or production. The drilling locations on which the Company will actually drill wells, including the number and timing thereof is ultimately dependent upon the availability of funding, regulatory approvals, seasonal restrictions, oil and natural gas prices, costs, actual drilling results, additional reservoir information that is obtained and other factors. While certain of the unbooked drilling locations have been derisked by drilling existing wells in relative close proximity to such unbooked drilling locations, the majority of other unbooked drilling locations are farther away from existing wells where management has less information about the characteristics of the reservoir and therefore there is more uncertainty whether wells will be drilled in such locations and, if drilled, there is more uncertainty that such wells will result in additional oil and gas reserves, resources or production.

ANALOGOUS INFORMATION

Certain information in this news release may constitute "analogous information" as defined in National Instrument 51-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101") with respect to the acquired assets including, but not limited to, information relating to areas, assets, wells and/or operations that are in geographical proximity to or believed to be on-trend with the acquired assets. Management of Tourmaline believes the information may be relevant to help define the reservoir characteristics within lands included in the acquired assets and such information has been presented to help demonstrate the basis for Tourmaline's business plans and strategies with respect to the acquired assets. There is no certainty that the results of the analogous information or inferred thereby will be achieved by the Company and such information should not be construed as an estimate of future production levels, reserves or the actual characteristics and quality of the acquired assets.

RESERVES INFORMATION

Reserves information provided with respect to the acquired assets reflect Company gross reserves being Tourmaline's working interest share before deduction of royalties and without including any royalty and are based on the company's internal evaluations, prepared with an effective date of December 31, 2015 by a qualified reserves evaluator in accordance with NI 51‐101 and the COGE Handbook.

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS:

bbl barrel
bbls/day barrels per day
bbl/mmcf barrels per million cubic feet
bcf billion cubic feet
bpd or bbl/d barrels per day
boe barrel of oil equivalent
boepd or boe/d
barrel of oil equivalent per day
bopd or bbl/d barrel of oil, condensate or liquids per day
gj
gigajoule
gjs/d
gigajoules per day
mbbls
thousand barrels
mboe
thousand barrels of oil equivalent
mcf
thousand cubic feet
mcfpd or mcf/d
thousand cubic feet per day
mcfe
thousand cubic feet equivalent
mmboe
million barrels of oil equivalent
mmbtu
million British thermal units
mmbtu/d
million British thermal units per day
mmcf
million cubic feet
mmcfpd or mmcf/d
million cubic feet per day
MPa
megapascal
mstboe
thousand stock tank barrels of oil equivalent
NGL
natural gas liquids

ABOUT TOURMALINE OIL CORP.

Tourmaline is a Canadian intermediate crude oil and natural gas exploration and production company focused on long-term growth through an aggressive exploration, development, production and acquisition program in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Tourmaline Oil Corp.
Michael Rose
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
(403) 266-5992

OR

Tourmaline Oil Corp.
Brian Robinson
Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
(403) 767-3587
[email protected]

OR

Tourmaline Oil Corp.
Scott Kirker
Secretary and General Counsel
(403) 767-3593
[email protected]

OR

Tourmaline Oil Corp.
Suite 3700, 250 - 6th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2P 3H7
Phone: (403) 266-5992
Facsimile: (403) 266-5952
Website: www.tourmalineoil.com
E-mail: [email protected]

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