QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - May 7, 2008) - Petrolia (TSX VENTURE:PEA), Junex (TSX VENTURE:JNX) and Gastem (TSX VENTURE:GMR)

are pleased to announce the signature of a Joint Operating Agreement for the development of the Haldimand petroleum project. Subject to majority approval of the technical committee, the co-venturers will, over the next 12 months, carry out a $5,000,000 work program in order to better define the oil potential previously identified in the Petrolia-Haldimand #1 well.

Under this agreement, the co-venturers have created a 9-km2 joint development area around the Petrolia-Haldimand #1 well, in which Petrolia owns a 45% working interest, Junex a 45% working interest and Gastem a 10% working interest (the "Haldimand Project"). Junex' status as operator is confirmed for a minimum 2-year period from the execution of the agreement. The Haldimand Project is subject to a 5% overriding royalty payable to Terrenex Ventures Ltd/Questerre Energy Corp.; two-thirds (2/3) of the royalty being payable by Junex and the remaining third, being payable by Petrolia.

"It is an important day for our three companies since this agreement will allow us to develop the discovery announced on June 27, 2006. Our technical teams are already in the process of planning the next phase of work to be conducted as soon as possible" indicated the presidents of the three companies'.

About Petrolia

Petrolia is a junior oil and gas exploration company that holds exploration rights on a total of 14 929 km2 (3,7 millions acres), an area which represents 21 % of the Quebec territory under licence. Mainly located in the Gaspe Peninsula and on Anticosti Island, these licences are considered as the most prospective lands, representing 70% of the Quebec petroleum onshore potential, Petrolia will now have a free hand to develop that potential with new partners and it intends to intensify its exploration program in the upcoming years. The company has 34 M outstanding shares and it owns 2.2% of the issued and outstanding shares of Gastem Inc. (TSX VENTURE:GMR).

About Junex

Junex is a junior oil and gas exploration company that holds exploration rights on more than 6 million acres of land located in the Appalachian basin in the Province of Quebec. Several recent discoveries in the United States and Eastern Canada have stimulated exploration in Quebec, whose sedimentary basin is located in a favourable geological setting for oil and gas discovery. Junex's strategy consists in entering into partnerships with other exploration companies in order to reduce exploration risks.. In parallel to its exploration efforts, Junex's goal is to achieve positive cash flows from its natural brine and drilling services operations. Junex also owns approximately 9.4% of the issued and outstanding shares of Petrolia (TSX VENTURE:PEA) and 1.3% of the issued and outstanding shares of Gastem (TSX VENTURE:GMR).

About Gastem

Gastem is a gas exploration and development company which holds exploration rights on more than 1 million acres of land in Quebec, interests in the Joly Project with Intragaz and also various projects in the North-East United States. The company has a working interest in 24 gas wells currently in production in the Amber Bank project, West Virginia. Gastem is mainly active and is a leader in the exploration and development project of the Utica Shales in the St-Lawrence Lowlands and the Appalachians in the State of New-York. In the coming weeks, the company expects to undertake important drilling projects in the State of New-York while leading many exploration projects in Quebec

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