Gran Tierra Energy Acquires Strategic Assets in Ecuador’s Oriente Basin

Rhea-AI Summary

Gran Tierra Energy (NYSE American:GTE) has announced the acquisition of GeoPark Ecuador and Frontera Energy's interests in the Perico and Espejo Blocks in Ecuador's Oriente Basin for US$15.55 million, plus potential contingent payment of $1.5 million. The assets currently produce approximately 2,000 barrels of oil per day, representing a purchase price of $7,750 per flowing barrel.

The strategic acquisition expands GTE's footprint in Ecuador, with the Perico Block being adjacent to their operated Iguana Block where they recently made two oil discoveries. The deal is expected to close in Q4 2025, subject to regulatory approvals from Ecuador's Ministry of Energy.

The company plans to leverage its regional expertise and infrastructure to enhance value through efficient enhanced oil recovery techniques, particularly waterflooding, building on their nearly two decades of operational experience in neighboring Colombia.

Positive

• Strategic acquisition adds 2,000 barrels of oil per day to production
• Purchase price of $7,750 per flowing barrel represents efficient capital deployment
• Geographic synergy with Perico Block adjacent to recent Iguana Block discoveries
• Potential for operational synergies and shared infrastructure across blocks
• Additional upside through $1.5M contingent payment tied to production milestones

Negative

• Closing subject to regulatory approvals, creating execution risk
• Additional capital investment needed for enhanced oil recovery implementation
• Espejo Block located further south, potentially limiting immediate operational synergies

Insights

Oil & Gas Industry Analyst

Gran Tierra's $15.55M strategic acquisition in Ecuador adds 2,000 daily barrels and expands regional synergies in the Oriente Basin.

Gran Tierra Energy's acquisition of the Perico and Espejo Blocks in Ecuador represents a strategic expansion of its footprint in the Oriente Basin at a purchase price of $15.55 million, with an additional $1.5 million contingent on production milestones. The deal adds approximately 2,000 barrels of oil per day to Gran Tierra's production portfolio, translating to roughly $7,750 per flowing barrel—a reasonable valuation for producing assets in the current market.

The geographic significance of this acquisition cannot be overstated. The Perico Block's adjacency to Gran Tierra's Iguana Block, where the company recently made two oil discoveries, creates immediate operational synergies and a contiguous development area. This proximity will likely enable the company to leverage existing infrastructure, potentially reducing development costs and accelerating time-to-market for new production.

Looking at the strategic rationale, Gran Tierra is clearly building a critical mass of reserves in northern Ecuador that could justify more substantial infrastructure investments. The company's planned high-impact Conejo wells in the nearby Charapa Block could further enhance regional development opportunities. If successful, these combined assets would create economies of scale that substantially improve the economics of all the company's Ecuadorian holdings.

The timing of this acquisition aligns with Gran Tierra's recent exploration success in Ecuador and leverages the company's nearly two decades of operational experience in neighboring Colombia. The emphasis on implementing enhanced oil recovery techniques such as waterflooding—a method Gran Tierra has successfully deployed elsewhere—suggests potential for production optimization beyond the current 2,000 barrel per day baseline.

CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (“Gran Tierra” or the “Company”) (NYSE American:GTE)(TSX:GTE)(LSE:GTE) announced that its indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, Gran Tierra Energy Ecuador 1 GmbH and Gran Tierra Energy Ecuador 2 GmbH, have entered into definitive agreements to acquire all of GeoPark Ecuador S.A.’s and Frontera Energy Colombia Corp Sucursal Ecuador’s (the “Sellers”) interests in the Perico and Espejo Blocks (the “Blocks”) and their associated Consortiums (the “Consortiums”).

The aggregate purchase price for the Blocks and Consortiums is US$15.55 million, subject to customary working capital adjustments as of the effective date of January 1, 2025. The agreement includes an additional contingent consideration of $1.5 million, payable upon the Perico Block achieving cumulative gross production of two million barrels as from January 1, 2025. The acquisitions are expected to close upon satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals for closing and operations takeover from the Ministry of Energy of Ecuador. Closing is anticipated no earlier than the fourth quarter of 2025.

Gary Guidry, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gran Tierra, commented:

“These acquisitions represent a logical and strategic expansion of our footprint in Ecuador’s Oriente Basin. The Company has successfully discovered a critical threshold of reserves in northern Ecuador that support future development. Once we drill our two high-impact Conejo wells in the Charapa Block—scheduled to commence in September—we expect to accelerate the potential for regional development infrastructure and synergies that support low-cost development and operation of the discovered resources.

The Perico Block is directly adjacent to our operated Iguana Block, where we recently made two oil discoveries in the first half of 2025, and provides a natural extension of our exploration success in the area. Espejo, while further south with a smaller discovered field to date, presents an opportunity for Gran Tierra to enhance the value of existing reserves by leveraging our regional economies of scale.

With our established in-country presence, technical expertise, and disciplined capital approach—demonstrated by almost two decades of operating experience just across the border in Colombia—we are well-positioned to build on this momentum and unlock further value from these promising assets, particularly through the implementation of efficient enhanced oil recovery techniques such as waterflooding. We are excited to continue strengthening our role as a key partner to the Government of Ecuador in advancing high-impact energy development.”

The Blocks to be acquired include existing production of approximately 2,000 barrels of oil per day based on July 2025 production, representing a purchase price of approximately $7,750 per flowing barrel. The Perico Block is directly adjacent to Gran Tierra’s operated Iguana Block, where the Company recently made two oil discoveries in the U Sandstone. This geographic continuity presents a strategic opportunity to extend the proven productive trend, leverage shared infrastructure, and capture operational synergies across both Blocks. Espejo, while located further south, has already delivered oil discoveries under the previous operator and adds existing production and development potential to Gran Tierra’s focused position in Ecuador’s Oriente Basin.

Upon closing, the acquisitions will expand Gran Tierra’s footprint in Ecuador and complement the Company’s ongoing exploration and development activities in the country.

About Gran Tierra Energy Inc.

Gran Tierra Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is an independent international energy company currently focused on oil and natural gas exploration and production in Canada, Colombia and Ecuador. The Company is currently developing its existing portfolio of assets in Canada, Colombia and Ecuador and will continue to pursue additional new growth opportunities that would further strengthen the Company’s portfolio. The Company’s common stock trades on the NYSE American, the Toronto Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GTE. Additional information concerning Gran Tierra is available at www.grantierra.com. Except to the extent expressly stated otherwise, information on the Company’s website or accessible from our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into and should not be considered part of this press release. Investor inquiries may be directed to info@grantierra.com or (403) 265-3221.

Gran Tierra’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) are available on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company’s Canadian securities regulatory filings are available on SEDAR+ at http://www.sedarplus.ca and UK regulatory filings are available on the National Storage Mechanism website at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.

Contact Information

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

Gary Guidry
President & Chief Executive Officer

Ryan Ellson
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

+1-403-265-3221
info@grantierra.com

Forward Looking Statements and Legal Advisories:

This press release contains statements about future events that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and financial outlook and forward looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release, including those statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “can,” “will,” “should,” and “believes,” derivations thereof and similar terms identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect several material factors and expectations and assumptions of Gran Tierra including, without limitation, that Gran Tierra will continue to conduct its operations in a manner consistent with its current expectations, pricing and cost estimates (including with respect to commodity pricing and exchange rates), the general continuance of assumed operational, regulatory and industry conditions in Ecuador, and the ability of Gran Tierra to execute its business and operational plans in the manner currently planned.

Among the important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to the risk factors detailed from time to time in Gran Tierra’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, under the caption “Risk Factors” in Gran Tierra’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed February 24, 2025 and its other filings with the SEC. These filings are available on the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the fact that this press release remains available does not constitute a representation by Gran Tierra that Gran Tierra believes these forward-looking statements continue to be true as of any subsequent date. Gran Tierra 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 law.

FAQ

What is the total value of Gran Tierra Energy's (GTE) acquisition in Ecuador?

Gran Tierra is acquiring the assets for US$15.55 million, plus a potential contingent payment of $1.5 million if the Perico Block achieves 2 million barrels of cumulative production.

How much current oil production will GTE gain from the Ecuador acquisition?

The acquisition will add approximately 2,000 barrels of oil per day to Gran Tierra's production, based on July 2025 production figures.

When is the Gran Tierra (GTE) Ecuador acquisition expected to close?

The acquisition is expected to close no earlier than the fourth quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approvals from Ecuador's Ministry of Energy.

What are the strategic benefits of GTE's Ecuador asset acquisition?

The acquisition provides geographic synergies with GTE's existing Iguana Block, opportunities for shared infrastructure, and potential for enhanced oil recovery implementation using the company's regional expertise.

How does the Perico Block acquisition align with Gran Tierra's existing operations?

The Perico Block is directly adjacent to GTE's Iguana Block where they recently made two oil discoveries, allowing for extension of the proven productive trend and operational synergies.