Brasilia. Canadian junior Gran Tierra Energy has signed a farm-in agreement with Brazil's Alvorada Petroleo to receive a 70% working interest in Blocks REC-T-129, REC-T -142, REC-T -155 and Gran Tierra said under the agreement it will pay $22.6 million and cover 100% of the costs to drill an exploration well on both REC-T-129 and REC-T -142.

Calgary. Gran Tierra Energy Inc. ("Gran Tierra Energy") (AMEX: GTE; TSX: GTE), a company focused on oil and gas exploration and production in South America, today announced that it had completed initial testing of the Moqueta-2 delineation well in the Moqueta new field discovery on the Chaza Block in the Putumayo Basin, Colombia. Gran Tierra Energy has a 100% working interest and is the Operator of the Chaza Block.

Falklands. Rockhopper Exploration plc (AIM: RKH), the North Falkland Basin oil and gas exploration company is ready to begin a flow test on the Sea Lion discovery which should give an early indication of the production potential of the reservoir sands.

Houston. Ensco PLC reported that it retrieved Ensco 69, an independent-leg slot jack up, from Venezuela and moved the rig to Trinidad and Tobago. Previously, Ensco terminated its contract for the rig with Petrosucre, a unit of Venezuela's Petroleos de Venezuela SA.