PDP 1st Q=considerable growth

Petrolifera Petroleum's Argentinean estimated sales volumes show considerable growth during first quarter 2008

cnwCALGARY, April 2 /CNW/ - Petrolifera Petroleum Limited (PDP - TSX) announced today it continues to grow and reestablish its solid production and sales base in Argentina. During March 2008, the company's estimated sales volumes rose approximately 40 percent from January levels to reach an estimated 9,000 boe/d. Petrolifera's March 2008 estimated exit sales rate was approximately 9,300 boe/d, of which approximately 85 percent was represented by crude oil and natural gas liquids sales and the balance was natural gas sales.

Sales volumes reported herein have been estimated based upon available information and may differ from reported sales volumes which will be based on actual sales receipts.Petrolifera's estimated monthly sales volumes for the first quarter 2008 were January - 6,460 boe/d; February - 8,290 boe/d and March - 8,975 boe/d.

The estimated daily average sales rate for the first quarter 2008 was approximately 7,900 boe/d, an increase of twelve percent over fourth quarter 2007 levels.

Readers are cautioned that a barrel of oil equivalent (boe) is derived by converting natural gas to oil in the ratio of six thousand cubic feet of gas to one barrel of oil and that this may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead.

Production and consequent sales volumes in January were affected to some extent by the installation of new water treatment and waterflood facilities but showed excellent improvement throughout the remainder of the quarter, aided by successful new infill drilling as detailed herein.

The current level of production and sales does not yet in any measurable manner reflect the activation of the company's recently installed waterflood at Puesto Morales Norte. Petrolifera anticipates it will be later in 2008 before the initial impact of the waterflood will be discernible and the company does not expect the full impact to occur until the second half of 2009.

It is anticipated there will be increasing stability in Petrolifera's base production and sales volumes once the waterflood is optimized.During the first quarter 2008,

Petrolifera drilled or initiated drilling of 16 wholly-owned wells at Puesto Morales/Rinconada, resulting in eight oil producers, two water injectors, one gas producer (PME x-1001 - currently on a sustained production test through a ten millimeter choke at a rate of approximately 1.8 mmcf/d from the Loma Montosa Formation), two wells waiting on completion, one drilling well, one preparing to drill on the company's Rinconada Block and one dry hole.

The company's best new well was PMN a-1081, which tested over 1,000 bbl/d of light gravity Sierras Blancas crude oil and is now onstream contributing to the company's much improved sales.

Follow-ups to this well are anticipated.The company expects to drill its second exploratory well on its 100 percent-owned Puesto Morales Este block during April 2008 and plans an aggressive evaluation and drilling program on the balance of its extensive Argentinean acreage position during the balance of 2008.

Petrolifera is currently operating with two drilling rigs and two service rigs on its Argentinean acreage.

Detailed financial and operating results for the first quarter 2008 will be released to the public on May 8, 2008, which is also the date of the company's Annual General Meeting, to be held in Calgary, Alberta at 3:00 P.M., MT, at the Calgary Petroleum Club.Petrolifera Petroleum Limited is a Calgary-based crude oil and natural gas exploration and production company with its principal producing asset at Puesto Morales Norte in the Neuquen Basin onshore Argentina.

It also holds extensive exploratory rights and plans drilling activity in Colombia and onshore Peru, where it is conducting an extensive 2D seismic program on block 107 in the Ucayali Basin in preparation for the anticipated drilling program.FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION:This press release contains forward-looking information, including but not limited to future exploration and development plans and the anticipated timing associated therewith, anticipated production growth from planned capital programs, current production, recently drilled wells and the recently activated waterflood, anticipated productivity of certain recently drilled wells and follow-up potential to the PMN a-1081 exploratory well.

This information is based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to risks associated with the oil and gas industry (e.g. 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 reserve estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections in relation to production, costs and expenses and health, safety and environmental risks), the risk of commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations, the uncertainty associated with negotiating with foreign governments and risk associated with international activity.

There can be no assurance that flow rates established on the sustained production test of the PME x-1001 will be maintained when this well is placed onstream. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in the company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2007 which is filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.Due to the risks, uncertainties and assumptions inherent in forward-looking information, prospective investors in the company's securities should not place undue reliance on this forward-looking information. Readers should review the risk-factors set forth in the company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2007, available at www.sedar.com, for a detailed description of the risks and uncertainties facing the company. Forward looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof and are subject to change.

The company assumes no obligation to revise or update forward looking information to reflect new circumstances, except as required by law.For further information: Richard A. Gusella, Executive Chairman, Petrolifera Petroleum Limited, Phone (403) 538-6201, Fax: (403) 538-6225, inquiries@petrolifera.ca, www.petrolifera.ca© 2008 The Globe and Mail

Looking back the letters A- N represent significant events that have taken place back to
Feb 15 2008. Feb 29th we saw a price of $12.50.

Petrolifera Petroleum "buy," target price reduced
03/19/08 - Jennings Capital

NEW YORK, March 19 (newratings.com) - Analysts at Jennings Capital maintain their "buy" rating on Petrolifera Petroleum Ltd (P9P). The target price has been reduced from C$17.40 to C$16.50.In a research note published yesterday, the analysts mention that the company's operating costs rose in 4Q on account of lower-than-expected volumes. Petrolifera Petroleum’s cash flows in 2007 were adversely impacted by higher-than-expected taxes, the analysts say. The company’s FD&A costs in the year were higher than the 2005/2006 level partly on account of higher-than-expected facility capex, Jennings Capital adds.

Petrolifera Petroleum rises on reserves increase.

Posted: February 26, 2008, 4:07 PM by David Pett
Energy
Petrolifera Petroleum Ltd. shares were up more than 10% on Tuesday after reporting increased reserves in 2007.

The company said proved resources increased 43% from 10.5 million barrels to 15.1 million barrels of oil, while proved and probable reserves increased 10% from 19.5 million barrels to 21.5 million barrels of oil.

The biggest material increase was in the proved probable and possible reserves category which was not evaluated in 2006. For 2007 the company reported these reserves reached 33.4 million barrels.

The huge short activity will result in PDP exploding up on the next significant news release.
The shorts will have to cover their position fast, since the float is small 50 Million shares, and the current volume at these levels is 22-28,000 shares per day, which is a joke.

Bernanke: Recession possible

Bernanke: Recession possible

JEANNINE AVERSA

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned Wednesday the U.S. economy may shrink over the first half of this year and “a recession is possible.” Yet, he didn't offer any assurances of further interest rate cuts.
Bernanke's testimony to the Joint Economic Committee was a much more pessimistic assessment of the economy's immediate prospects amid a trio of crises — housing, credit and financial.

“It now appears likely that gross domestic product (GDP) will not grow much, if at all, over the first half of 2008 and could even contract slightly,”

Mr. Bernanke told lawmakers.

GDP measures the value of all goods and services produced within the United States and is the best barometer of economic health. Under one rule, six straight months of declining GDP would constitute a recession.

Still, Mr. Bernanke said he expects more economic growth in the second half of this year and into 2009, helped by the government's $168-billion (U.S.) stimulus package of tax rebates for people and tax breaks for businesses, as well as the Fed's aggressive reductions to a key interest rate. Nevertheless, the chairman acknowledged uncertainty about the Fed's next steps, notwithstanding the mounting economic woes.

“Much necessary economic and financial adjustment has already taken place, and monetary and fiscal policies are in train that should support a return to growth in the second half of this year and next year,” Mr. Bernanke said.

To try to limit the damage, the Federal Reserve has aggressively cut a key interest rate, now at 2.25 per cent, to spur buying and investing by individuals and businesses. At the Fed's last meeting in March, however, two members dissented from the Fed's decision to sharply cut rates, showing a rare division in the often unified front the Fed shows the public. The dissenting officials, who had reputations for being extra concerned about inflation, favoured a smaller reduction. Although Mr. Bernanke said he hopes inflation will moderate in coming quarters, he acknowledged high energy prices have clouded the inflation outlook.

Many economists had predicted the Fed might drop its key that rate again when it next meets April 29-30, although Mr. Bernanke's remarks cast some doubt on that scenario.
On Wall Street, stocks initially dropped after the Fed chief's remarks but later turned slightly positive.

Housing, credit and financial woes are threatening to push the country into a deep recession. The situation has emerged as a top concern for presidential contenders and a hot-button issue for Congress. It has thrust the White House and the Fed in crisis-management mode.
Faced with mounting home foreclosures and job losses, Mr. Bernanke has been under immense political and public pressure to provide relief and help turn around a faltering economy.
Committee Chairman Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., peppered Mr. Bernanke with questions about the Fed's moves to aid once mighty Wall Street firm Bears Stearns and then juxtaposed that with — what he believed was a lack of help — to millions of people at risk of losing their homes.

“I hope that you will use your position to jawbone this administration to get behind the housing relief effort before Congress.” Mr. Schumer said. “Addressing the housing crisis head-on will do as much to instill confidence in the markets as lowering interest rates or bolstering regulatory oversight of wayward mortgage lenders and financial institutions. We need to do all of it.”
“Wall Street has been helped. Now it's time to help Main Street,” added Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y.

Many private analysts believe the economy contracted in the first three months of this year, signaling the start of a recession. The government releases first-quarter results later this month. The economy lost jobs in January and February, with many economists bracing for more losses when the report for March is released Friday. Mr. Bernanke said he expected unemployment to move “somewhat higher in coming months.”

“Clearly, the U.S. economy is going through a very difficult period,” he told lawmakers, adding that all the problems have weighed heavily on consumers whose spending is indispensable to economic vitality.

The Fed also has taken a series of extraordinary steps in recent weeks and months to prop up the nation's financial system, which has been in state of high jeopardy.
In a controversial move, the Fed backed a $29-billion lifeline as part of JPMorgan's deal to take over troubled Bear Stearns, the nation's fifth largest investment house. Bear Stearns had invested heavily in risky mortgage-backed securities that eventually soured with the collapse of the housing market.

Mr. Bernanke defended the move. “With financial conditions fragile, the sudden failure of Bear Stearns likely would have led to a chaotic unwinding of positions in those markets and could have severely shaken confidence,” he said.

“The damage caused by a default by Bear Stearns could have been severe and extremely difficult to contain.”

Although the taxpayers are on the hook for the $29-billion, Mr. Bernanke said he was “reasonably confident we'll be able to recover the full amount.” He also said that Bear Stearns' investments that the Fed took control of “are entirely investment grade.”
In addition, the Fed — in the broadest use of its credit authority since the 1930s — agreed to temporarily let big investment firms obtain emergency financing from the Fed, a privilege that previously had been granted only to commercial banks.

Those actions have prompted criticism from Democrats and others who contend that the Fed is bailing out Wall Street and putting billions of taxpayers' dollars at potential risk. Mr. Bernanke and the Bush administration argued that the actions were warranted to avert a potential meltdown in the entire financial system, something that would have devastating consequences for the overall economy.

Asked about the Bush administration's plan to revamp the country's creaking financial system, Mr. Bernanke said it was vital for the Fed to have sufficient enforcement powers. Under the plan, the Fed would become a top cop in charge of financial market stability but would lose its day-to-day supervision of U.S. banks.

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