CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - July 17, 2013) - Crown Point Energy Inc. (News - Market indicators) ("Crown Point" or "the Company") is pleased to provide an operational update for its 25.78% interest Las Violetas Exploitation Concession in the Province of Tierra del Fuego and for its 100% interest Neuquén Basin, Cerro de Los Leones Exploration Concession in the Province of Mendoza.

Operational Update

Tierra del Fuego, Austral Basin

Drilling Operations

Crown Point and its partners are currently reviewing several drilling rig options and negotiations are underway to obtain and import a drilling rig into Tierra del Fuego to conduct a multi-well and multi-year drilling program on its 25.78% interest Las Violetas Exploitation Concession in the Province of Tierra del Fuego. Drilling operations are expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2013. The initial program of 8 wells is part of a multi-well drilling campaign to exploit the predominantly gas charged Springhill sandstones on its concessions in the Province of Tierra del Fuego in particular the Las Violetas Concession. Capital expenditures for Crown Points' capital program are expected to be funded using Crown Point's existing resources and cash flows. 

The initial eight well phase of the Las Violetas Exploitation Concession drilling program is a low risk development program. These wells are expected to take 20 days to drill and case (including rig up and rig down), and completion and tie-in are expected to take an additional 30 days per well.

The locations are fully defined with 3D seismic and are either infill locations or low risk pool step-outs. Additionally, Crown Point and its partners have identified a number of high reward exploration and exploitation locations on the Las Violetas Exploitation Concession. If any future drilling activities at these locations is successful, it could further add to the present drilling inventory.

It is anticipated that production increases resulting from the drilling program will qualify for improved gas pricing under the New Gas Incentive Program, announced by the Argentine government in January 2013. Crown Point has applied for participation in the New Gas Incentive Program. The government of Argentina has extended the negotiation period until August 15, 2013

As previously announced, Crown Point and its partners recently received all necessary governmental approvals for 10 year extensions of the Las Violetas Exploitation Concession, as well as the Rio Cullen and Angostura Exploitation Concessions, in which Crown Point also holds a 25.78% interest and which are also in the Province of Tierra del Fuego. The following are the key terms of the extensions:

Las Violetas Exploitation Concession

• Cash payment: US$5 million (gross) (net $1.3 million) paid in three equal installments commencing immediately and subsequently in 180 day successive periods;
  
  
• Base royalty: increase from 12 to 15%;
  
  
• Variable royalty: 0.5% to a maximum of 2.5% (in 0.5% increments) with increasing oil and gas prices;
  
  
• Minimum total development investment commitment: US$46.9 million including 18 wells (gross) (net US$12.1 million) to be expended over the remaining life of the concession; 
  
  
• Minimum total exploration investment commitment: US$5.0 million (gross) (net US$1.25 million) to be expended over the next 60 months.
  

The two year capital commitment for the Las Violetas Exploitation Concession, including the extension fee, development and exploration commitments, is US$21.23 million (gross) (net - US$5.47mm).

Rio Cullen and Angostura Exploitation Concessions

• Exploration commitment - Rio Cullen: US$3.3 million (gross) (net US$0.85 million), Angostura: US$3.8 million (gross) (net US$0.98 million) which in both cases includes seismic and drilling and is to be expended over a 24 month period.
  
  
• Base royalty: increase from 12 to 15%;
  
  
• Variable royalty: 0.5% to 2.5% (in 0.5% increments) with increasing oil and gas prices; and
  
  
• After fulfillment of the exploration commitments there is an additional minimum total additional investment commitment on each concession: US$1.8 million (gross) (net US$0.46 million).
  

The combined two year capital commitment for both the Rio Cullen and Angostura Exploitation Concessions is US$7.1 million (gross) (net - US$1.83mm).

Cerro de Los Leones, Province of Mendoza, Neuquén Basin

The seismic interpretation and geological integration continues at the 100% interest Cerro de Los Leones Exploration Concession focusing on two separate potentially multi-zone structural features. These structural features have been identified on the recently acquired 3-D seismic program. The structural features comprise the northern extension of a larger structural trend of producing fields located immediately to the south of Crown Point's concession, which producing fields include the YPF field Pampa Palauco. The Argentina Secretary of Energy records show that Pampa Palauco has to date produced 21.4 million barrels of oil. Engineering well design and reservoir evaluation is underway for these two prospects. A drilling rig of suitable capacity to drill and evaluate these two structures is expected to be available at year end. These drilling of these structures would evaluate both the conventional reservoirs as well as the unconventional Vaca Muerta oil shales.

About Crown Point

Crown Point Energy Inc. is an international oil and gas exploration and development company headquartered in Calgary, Canada, incorporated in Canada, trading on the TSX Venture Exchange and operating in South America. Crown Point's exploration and development activities are focused in the Golfo San Jorge, Neuquén and Austral basins in Argentina. Crown Point has a strategy that focuses on establishing a portfolio of producing properties, plus production enhancement and exploration opportunities to provide a basis for future growth.

Advisories

Forward-Looking Statements 

Certain information regarding Crown Point set forth in this document may constitute forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws and necessarily involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including information relating to the following: the intent of Crown Point and its partners to import a drilling rig into Tierra del Fuego to conduct a multi-well and multi-year drilling program; the expectation that drilling operations in the Las Violetas Exploitation Concession will commence in the fourth quarter of 2013 and the number of wells to be drilled; the expectation that the multi-well Las Violetas Exploitation Concession drill program will target predominantly gas charged Springhill sandstones; the expectation of how capital expenditures will be funded; the expectation that drilling on the Las Violetas Exploitation Concession represents a low risk development program; the expected time to drill, case, tie-in and complete the wells to be drilled; the expectation that successful drilling on certain high reward exploration and exploitation locations on the Las Violetas Exploitation Concession could add additional drilling locations; the expectation that production increases resulting from the drilling program will be eligible for the New Gas Program; and the timing of the availability of a drilling rig for evaluating certain prospects on the Cerro de Los Leones Exploration Concession. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions including but not limited to the following: the Company being eligible for the New Gas Program and the terms thereof, drilling success, expectations with respect to future production levels, future capital expenditure levels, expectations of cash flow from operating activities, commodity prices, costs associated with capital expenditures, the availability of personnel and equipment when expected, the timely receipt of applicable regulatory and other governmental approvals, and the continuance of existing laws and regulations. 
The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such information may prove to be incorrect. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Crown Point's control, including without limitation, risks associated with the following: oil and gas exploration, development, exploitation, production, marketing and transportation, loss of markets, volatility of commodity prices, environmental risks, inability to obtain drilling rigs or other services, capital expenditure cost increases, including drilling, completion and facility costs, unexpected decline rates in wells, wells not performing as expected, delays resulting from or inability to obtain required regulatory approvals, ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, the impact of general economic conditions in Canada, Argentina, the United States and overseas, industry conditions, changes in laws and regulations (including the adoption of new environmental laws and regulations, changes to tax laws and changes to the New Gas Program) and changes in how they are interpreted and enforced, political risks (including the risk of the expropriation of the Company's assets), increased competition, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, fluctuations in foreign exchange or interest rates, and stock market volatility. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Crown Point's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits that the Company will derive therefrom. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. All forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect Crown Point's operations and financial results are included in reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com ) or Crown Point's website (www.crownpointventures.ca ). The forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as at the date of this news release and Crown Point does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Analogous Information

Certain information contained herein is considered "analogous information" as defined in National Instrument 51-101 - Standards of Disclosure of Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101"). Such analogous information has not been prepared in accordance with NI 51-101 and the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook. In particular, this press release presents overviews of certain historic production relating to fields in close proximity to areas in which the Company has an interest. Such information is based on independent public data and public information received from other government sources and the Company has no way of verifying the accuracy of such information. Such information has been presented to help demonstrate that hydrocarbons may be present in the Company's area of interest. There is no certainty that such results will be achieved by the Company and such information should not be construed as an estimate of future reserves or resources or future production levels.

TSX Venture Exchange

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.