GeoPetro Resources Company Completes 3D Seismic Program in Bengara-II Block, Indonesia

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- GeoPetro Resources Company (NYSE Amex: GPR) ("GeoPetro", "we", "our" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the 3D seismic acquisition and processing operations on its Bengara-II Block, Indonesia have been completed. The Bengara-II Block production sharing contract ("Bengara-II PSC") is owned and operated by the Company's 12% owned subsidiary, Continental-GeoPetro (Bengara-II) Ltd. ("CGB2").

Surface damage claims disputes with prawn farm operators in the area of the seismic data acquisition program arose in 2009. These disputes have resulted in accumulated delays of two years to the original estimated date for completion of seismic recording operations. CGB2 has applied for lost time compensation to extend the exploration period of the Bengara-II PSC for an additional two years due to these delays. CGB2 has also revised its 2011 budget and increased its estimate of the total cost of the combined 3D and 2D seismic program by an additional $11.6 million, bringing the total estimated completion cost for the 2009 Bengara-II seismic program to $35 million.

Field shooting and recording operations on the 3D portion of the seismic acquisition program are now completed. The full original 3D program of 178 square kilometers (120 km2 full fold) has been recorded. Computer processing of the entire 3D program is also now completed. Interpretation of the 3D dataset has begun and is expected to be completed by end of November, 2011.

Original 2009 plans also called for a total of 920 line kilometers of new 2D seismic data to be shot and recorded. Repositioning of some lines and abandonment of others due to the prawn farm issues has resulted in a reduction of the planned 2D program. CGB2 now expects to complete a total of 685 line kilometers of new 2D seismic recording.

Field shooting and recording operations on the revised 2D portion of the seismic acquisition program are now over 70% completed. Field operations are expected to be completed by end of October, 2011. Computer processing of the 2D program is expected to be completed by year end 2011.

CGB2 is currently finalizing its 2012 work program and budget and the Company will update 2012 drilling plans when the budget is finalized. The drilling of the Muara Makapan-2 appraisal well is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2012.

About GeoPetro

GeoPetro is an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in San Francisco, California. GeoPetro currently has projects in the United States, Canada and Indonesia. GeoPetro has developed a producing oil and gas property in its Madisonville Field Project in Texas. Elsewhere, GeoPetro has assembled a geographically-diversified portfolio of exploratory and appraisal prospects.

Cautionary Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information.  Statements contained in this news release relating to future results, events and expectations are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may involve known and unknown risks involving market prices for natural gas and oil, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory changes, resource estimates, estimates of proved and probable reserves, production forecasts, geological and engineering uncertainties, potential failure to achieve production from development drilling projects, capital expenditures and other risks and uncertainties, which may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Additional risk factors include, among others, those described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  We do not have any intention or obligation to update forward-looking statements included in this press release after the date of this press release, except as required by law.  

No stock exchange or regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the information contained herein.

Website: www.geopetro.com

SOURCE GeoPetro Resources Company

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