RIMOUSKI, Dec. 1 /CNW Telbec/ - Petrolia (PEA: TSX-V) proudly announces the start-up of drilling operations in Haldimand-1 well (PEA-3) on the GaspDe property. This well, 90% owned by Petrolia and 10% by Gastem (GMR: TSX-V), is part of Petrolia's 14-well 2005/2006 drilling program on the Gaspe property. The drilling operation endeavours to verify the petroleum potential of a new exploration zone, 5 km from the Town of GaspDe, south of Sandy Beach Port. Drilling here is in day 23, at a depth of 285 metres and an average daily penetration of 12 metres. The aim is to verify the petroleum potential at 1,000 metres in a reservoir zone at the base of the Devonian sandstone unit. The sandstone formations are roughly 1,000 metres thick in this sector, conducive to the development of reservoir zones in the sedimentary sequence. "On the GaspDe property, we are currently working on three petroleum wells with two drills in operation. Drilling operations, such as those on two new wells should be complete before the Christmas holidays. The potential for the first well, (Ber-PEA-1, 100% Petrolia) is sufficiently promising to proceed with fracturing the target zone at 400 metres. As to the second drilling program, Wakeham-1 (PEA-2), also owned exclusively by Petrolia, the target is situated at roughly 700 m and the current depth is 425 metres. According to wellsite management, oil is present in the water reservoirs, which fuels optimism about our chances of success," declared AndrDe Proulx, Company President. The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the authenticity or accuracy of this release.