Company Description
PetroTal Corp. (OTCQX: PTALF) is an oil and gas development and production company focused on crude petroleum and natural gas extraction. It is publicly traded and tri-quoted on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: TAL), AIM (PTAL), and OTCQX (PTALF), and is domiciled in Calgary, Alberta. According to company disclosures, PetroTal concentrates on the development of oil assets in Peru, with a primary focus on heavy crude oil.
The company’s flagship asset is its 100% working interest in the Bretaña Norte (often referenced as Bretana) oil field in Peru’s Block 95, where oil production was initiated in June 2018. PetroTal states that in early 2022 it became the largest crude oil producer in Peru. The Bretana field is described as a core long‑life asset, and the company has invested in production facilities and field infrastructure to support ongoing development.
Core Operations and Asset Base
PetroTal’s business is centered on upstream oil and gas activities. The company focuses on developing and producing heavy crude oil resources in Peru. Its main operational area is Block 95, where it holds a 100% working interest in the Bretana field. Company updates highlight that Bretana has seen continued development drilling, workovers, and infrastructure expansion, including processing facilities and water handling capacity, to support production levels.
In addition to Block 95, PetroTal also operates the Los Angeles field in Block 131 in Peru, where it likewise holds a 100% working interest. Production from Block 131 contributes a smaller portion of total group production relative to Bretana, and the company has reported activities such as workover campaigns and preparations for a development drilling program at this block.
Production Profile and Reserves Context
PetroTal reports group production and sales in barrels of oil per day (bopd), emphasizing heavy crude oil as defined under Canadian securities standards (National Instrument 51‑101). Company news releases provide detailed operating metrics, including average daily production, sales volumes, and realized prices, but these figures vary by quarter and year and are therefore time‑sensitive.
In its operational updates, PetroTal notes that the Bretana field has achieved cumulative production milestones and that proved (1P) and proved plus probable (2P) reserves associated with the field have increased over time, based on independent reserves evaluations. The company also references booked drilling locations and additional unbooked upside within certain reservoir horizons, indicating an ongoing technical focus on optimizing field development. These details are provided within PetroTal’s own disclosures and associated reserves reports.
Geographic and Corporate Focus
PetroTal’s operations are geographically concentrated in Peru, where it develops and produces heavy crude oil. The company emphasizes that its management team has significant experience in developing and exploring for oil in Peru. Corporate materials describe a Board of Directors focused on safely and cost‑effectively developing the Bretana oil field and its broader portfolio of Peruvian assets.
While domiciled in Calgary, Alberta, PetroTal’s operational footprint and capital programs are closely tied to Peruvian oil fields and associated infrastructure. The company’s disclosures also reference logistical aspects such as river barge exports and erosion control investments in the vicinity of Bretana, reflecting the remote and river‑based environment in which its main field operates.
Capital Allocation and Shareholder Returns
PetroTal has communicated a capital returns framework that includes dividends and share buybacks, subject to its financial position and operational outlook. Company announcements describe the declaration and payment of regular quarterly dividends in prior periods, as well as the subsequent suspension of the regular quarterly dividend when management and the Board determined that preserving liquidity was a priority in light of development timing and oil price conditions.
In addition, PetroTal has implemented a normal course issuer bid (NCIB) program, allowing the company to repurchase a portion of its outstanding common shares over a defined period. The company has stated that it views share repurchases as a tool to enhance long‑term shareholder returns when it believes the trading price does not fully reflect the underlying value of its shares.
Financing and Erosion Control Investments
PetroTal has entered into a syndicated term loan facility with Banco Interamericano de Finanzas (BanBif) and Corporacion Financiera de Desarrollo (COFIDE), the Development Bank of Peru. According to company disclosures, this term loan is intended to finance ongoing investments in erosion control infrastructure in the vicinity of the Bretana oil field. The project is described as critical to protecting both operations and the nearby community, and the loan is structured in two tranches with an amortizing term.
The company notes that this loan is COFIDE’s first facility focused on environmental and social financing in Peru’s extractive resource sector, and that PetroTal’s long‑standing engagement with the district of Puinahua and the permanent benefits of the erosion control project were important in securing the financing. PetroTal has also highlighted a 2.5% community social trust or social fund mechanism, through which a portion of value generated from operations is directed to local stakeholders.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
In its public communications, PetroTal emphasizes “community sensitive energy production” and initiatives aimed at benefiting all stakeholders. The company references its commitment to the residents of the district of Puinahua, including the establishment of a social fund and the erosion control project designed to mitigate riverbank erosion near the village of Bretana. These initiatives are positioned as part of PetroTal’s broader approach to operating in a way that considers local communities, infrastructure, and environmental conditions.
Company statements also highlight collaboration with Peruvian financial institutions and development entities on projects that combine operational needs with social and environmental objectives, such as erosion control infrastructure that protects both field facilities and nearby villages.
Corporate Governance and Shareholder Base
PetroTal regularly holds shareholder meetings, where resolutions such as the appointment of directors, auditor selection, and share consolidation authorities are put to a vote. Disclosures from its annual general meeting indicate that shareholders have approved the size of the Board, elected nominated directors, and authorized auditors. The company has also obtained shareholder approval for potential share consolidations within specified ratios, providing flexibility in managing its capital structure.
As a tri‑quoted issuer, PetroTal’s common shares trade on multiple markets, and the company reports that a significant number of its issued and outstanding shares are represented at shareholder meetings, indicating active investor participation.
Risk and Forward‑Looking Information
PetroTal’s public communications include extensive cautionary language regarding forward‑looking statements and future‑oriented financial information. The company notes that expectations regarding production levels, development programs, capital expenditures, erosion control projects, and capital returns are subject to various assumptions and risks, including commodity prices, infrastructure performance, regulatory frameworks, and operational conditions in its Peruvian fields.
Investors reviewing PetroTal’s stock (PTALF) typically refer to the company’s filed documents on Canadian regulatory platforms and its own published materials for detailed financial statements, reserves reports, and management’s discussion and analysis, which provide further context on its operations, risks, and strategic priorities.
Stock Performance
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SEC Filings
No SEC filings available for Petrotal.