NEWSROOM

    TORONTO, July 22 /CNW/ - Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp. (TSX: PRE) today
provided an update on the construction of the oil pipeline that links the
Rubiales field with the Monterrey station. The pipeline is being built and
will be operated by "Oleoducto de los Llanos Orientales S.A.", a special
purpose vehicle organized for the pipeline project, which is owned 35% by
Pacific Rubiales and 65% by Ecopetrol S.A.
    This project will enable the companies to substantially reduce the
transportation costs for Rubiales crude to the export port of Covenas while
ensuring that there will be adequate throughput capacity to bring the Rubiales
field to its full production potential.
    The pipeline transport system, which has been under construction since
late 2008, consists of a pipeline 235 km in length and 24 inches in diameter,
as well as all the associated pumping and storage facilities. As of July 20,
2009, the pipeline completion progress is as follows:-   Rights of way: 100%
    -   Construction: 99.75%
    -   Hydrostatic test completed successfully: 57%
    -   Valves construction: 85%Line filling will start during the second half of August 2009. The
initial capacity of the pipeline will be 170,000 bbl/d (pipeline grade)
blended Rubiales heavy oil and can be upgraded to 260,000 bbl/d of blended oil
by adding booster pump stations.
    The Rubiales field's heavy oil is to be diluted to an API gravity of 18.5
degrees. This would allow for the development and expansion of the Rubiales
field to its full potential as well as allowing for the development of the
Quifa Block, while reducing transportation costs by almost 50%.

    Pacific Rubiales, a Canadian-based company and producer of natural gas
and heavy crude oil, owns 100 percent of Meta Petroleum Corp., a Colombian oil
operator which operates the Rubiales and Piriri oil fields in the Llanos Basin
in association with Ecopetrol S.A., the Colombian national oil company. The
company is focused on identifying opportunities primarily within the eastern
Llanos Basin of Colombia as well as in other areas in Colombia and northern
Peru. Pacific Rubiales has a current net production of approximately 34,000
barrels of oil equivalent per day, with working interests in 34 blocks in
Colombia and Peru.

    Boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe
conversion ratio of 6 mcf: 1 bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion
method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value
equivalency at the wellhead.

    Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements,
other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or
developments that the company believes, expects or anticipates will or may
occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding
estimates and/or assumptions in respect of production, revenue, cash flow and
costs, reserve and resource estimates, potential resources and reserves and
the company's exploration and development plans and objectives) are
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the
current expectations or beliefs of the company based on information currently
available to the company. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number
of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the company to
differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and
even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can
be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects
on the company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ
materially from current expectations include, among other things: uncertainty
of estimates of capital and operating costs, production estimates and
estimated economic return; the possibility that actual circumstances will
differ from the estimates and assumptions; failure to establish estimated
resources or reserves; fluctuations in petroleum prices and currency exchange
rates; inflation; changes in equity markets; political developments in
Colombia or Peru; changes to regulations affecting the company's activities;
uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in
the future; the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and
other geological data; and the other risks disclosed under the heading "Risk
Factors" and elsewhere in the company's annual information form dated April 1,
2009 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking statement speaks
only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by
applicable securities laws, the company disclaims any intent or obligation to
update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or results or otherwise. Although the company believes that the
assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable,
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and
accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the
inherent uncertainty therein.

    %SEDAR: 00007953E