Gulfport Energy Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2007 Results

OKLAHOMA CITY, March 12, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Gulfport Energy Corporation (Nasdaq:GPOR) today reported financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2007.

For the fourth quarter, Gulfport reported net income of $8.2 million, compared to $5.4 million for the same prior-year period. Earnings per diluted share for the fourth quarter were $0.21 on revenues of $30.5 million. EBITDA (as defined below) for the quarter was $19.1 million, compared to approximately $10.6 million in the fourth quarter 2006. Cash flow from operating activities before changes in working capital for fourth quarter 2007 totaled $18.5 million, compared to approximately $10.1 million in fourth quarter 2006.

For the year, Gulfport reported net income of $37.8 million, a 36% increase compared to 2006. Earnings per diluted share for the year were $1.01 on revenues of $106 million. EBITDA (as defined below) for 2007 was $71.2 million, a 66% improvement compared to 2006. Cash flow from operating activities before changes in working capital for 2007 totaled $69.3 million, a 65% increase from 2006.

Production

For the fourth quarter of 2007, net production was 385,200 barrels of oil and 285,000 million cubic feet ("Mcf") of natural gas, or 432,700 barrels of oil equivalent ("BOE"). For the year, Gulfport reported record annual net production of 1,500,800 barrels of oil and 816,500 Mcf of natural gas, or 1,636,900 BOE. Production increased in 2007 by 67% compared to 2006 annual net production of 982,500 BOE.

Reserves

Total proved reserves were 25.1 million barrels of oil and 24.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas, or 29.2 million BOE at December 31, 2007. This compares with 23.2 million of proved reserve at December 31, 2006. The Company's total expenditures for finding, developing and acquiring in 2007 were $209 million. A table detailing reserves and total cost incurred can be found at the end of this release.

The present value of the future net cash flow before income taxes of the Company's estimated proved reserves at year-end 2007 using a 10% discount rate (PV10) was approximately $821.2 million. This is a 106% increase compared to 2006. The 2007 value was determined based on period-end prices of $92.50 per barrel of oil and $6.80 per Mcf for natural gas.

2008 Operation Update

In Southern Louisiana, the Company drilled three wells in the first quarter 2008 and released the barge rigs in West Cote and in Hackberry. The Company drilled its first well in the Permian in March and expects to add two additional rigs to the field. The Company is currently participating in 17 gross wells in the Bakken with an average interest of 1.4%. During the first quarter, the Company engaged in its second winter drilling season in Canada.

Current consolidated production from January 1 to March 10, 2008 was 325,700 BOE or 4,652 BOE per day.

2008 Guidance

Gulfport's 2008 production guidance is estimated at 1.9 to 2.1 million BOE. We estimate EBITDA for the year based on current oil and gas strip pricing to be $110-120 million. Capital expenditures are estimated at approximately $95 million prior to any new acreage or asset acquisitions Operationally, Gulfport plans to drill between 10 to 12 new wells at WCBB. We plan to drill 4 to 6 new wells at Hackberry. In Southern Louisiana we plan to spend roughly $40 million. In the Permian, Gulfport plans to drill 17 to 22 net wells and spend roughly $35 million. We plan to spend roughly $10 million in the Bakken and roughly $10 million in Canada. Our production and our capital expenditure will be back-end loaded. Our production guidance is based upon the approximately $95 million estimate and any new acreage or asset acquisitions would be incremental.

Lease operating expense is projected to be in the range of $9.00 to $10.00 per barrel of oil equivalent for 2008. Selling, general and administrative expenses are estimated to be between $3.00 to $4.00 per barrel of oil equivalent for 2008.

Gulfport CEO Jim Palm stated, "Returns in the Bakken and in the Permian are more compelling so we plan to moderate our activity in South Louisiana. We expect to be able to drill all these opportunities with available cash flow and existing credit facilities and look forward to a steady growth of both production and reserves in 2008."

Presentation

An updated presentation has been posted to the Company's website in conjunction with the release of 2008 guidance. The presentation can be at www.gulfportenergy.com under the "Webcasts and Presentations" section on the Investor Relations page.

Conference Call

Gulfport Energy will host a conference call today at 11:00 a.m. Central time to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2007 financial and operational results. Interested parties may listen to the call via Gulfport's website at www.gulfportenergy.com or by calling 1-866-679-8035. The passcode for the call is 78805415. A replay of the call will be available for two weeks at 1-888-286-8010. The replay passcode is 93564353. The webcast will be archived for 30 days on the Company's website.

About Gulfport

Gulfport Energy Corporation is an Oklahoma City based independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company with its principal producing properties located along the Louisiana Gulf Coast and the Permian Basin in West Texas. Gulfport also holds a sizeable acre position in the Alberta Oil Sands in Canada through its interest in Grizzly Oil Sands ULC. In addition, Gulfport is participating in numerous wells in the Bakken play in the Williston Basin in North Dakota.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this news release that address activities, events or developments that Gulfport expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including such things as future capital expenditures (including the amount and nature thereof), business strategy and measures to implement strategy, competitive strength, goals, expansion and growth of Gulfport's business and operations, plans, references to future success, reference to intentions as to future matters and other such matters are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by Gulfport in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments as well as other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform with Gulfport's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, general economic, market or business conditions; the opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to and pursued by Gulfport; competitive actions by other oil and gas companies; changes in laws or regulations; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Gulfport. Information concerning these and other factors can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Forms 10-KSB, 10-QSB and 8-K. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and there can be no assurances that the actual results or developments anticipated by Gulfport will be realized, or even if realized, that they will have the expected consequences to or effects on Gulfport, its business or operations. We have no intention, and disclaim any obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure equal to net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, plus interest expense, income tax expense, accretion expense and depreciation, depletion and amortization. Operating cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure equal to cash flows from operating activities before changes in assets and liabilities. The Company has presented EBITDA because it uses EBITDA as an integral part of its internal reporting to measure its performance and to evaluate the performance of its senior management. EBITDA is considered an important indicator of the operational strength of the Company's business. EBITDA eliminates the uneven effect of considerable amounts of non-cash depletion, depreciation of tangible assets and amortization of certain intangible assets. A limitation of this measure, however, is that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues in the Company's businesses. Management evaluates the costs of such tangible and intangible assets and the impact of related impairments through other financial measures, such as capital expenditures, investment spending and return on capital. Therefore, the Company believes that EBITDA provides useful information to its investors regarding its performance and overall results of operations. EBITDA and operating cash flow are not intended to be performance measures that should be regarded as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, either net income as an indicator of operating performance or to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. In addition, EBITDA and operating cash flow are not intended to represent funds available for dividends, reinvestment or other discretionary uses, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. The EBITDA and operating EBITDA measures presented in this press release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies, and may not be identical to corresponding measures used in the Company's various agreements.



                      GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                              (Unaudited)

                     Three Months Ended       Twelve Months Ended
                        December 31,              December 31,
                  ------------------------- -------------------------
                      2007         2006         2007         2006
                  ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
 Revenues:
  Gas sales       $  2,050,000 $    776,000 $  6,043,000 $  4,194,000
  Oil and
   condensate
   sales            28,760,000   16,634,000  100,120,000   56,038,000
  Other income
   (expense)          (337,000)     177,000     (325,000)     158,000
                  ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
                    30,473,000   17,587,000  105,838,000   60,390,000
                  ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
 Costs and
  expenses:
  Lease operating
   expenses          5,543,000    4,111,000   16,670,000   10,670,000
  Production taxes   3,650,000    1,944,000   12,667,000    7,366,000
  Depreciation,
   depletion, and
   amortization      9,553,000    4,428,000   29,681,000   12,652,000
  General and
   administrative    2,375,000    1,019,000    5,802,000    3,251,000
  Accretion
   expense             139,000      149,000      554,000      596,000
                  ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
                    21,260,000   11,651,000   65,374,000   34,535,000
                  ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
 INCOME FROM
  OPERATIONS:        9,213,000    5,936,000   40,464,000   25,855,000
                  ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
 OTHER (INCOME)
  EXPENSE:

  Interest expense   1,112,000      644,000    3,091,000    1,956,000
  Business
   interruption
   insurance
   recoveries               --           --           --   (3,601,000)
  Interest income     (180,000)    (112,000)    (523,000)    (308,000)
                  ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
                       932,000      532,000    2,568,000   (1,953,000)
                  ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
 INCOME BEFORE
  INCOME TAXES       8,281,000    5,404,000   37,896,000   27,808,000

 INCOME TAX
  EXPENSE:              64,000           --      121,000           --
                  ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------

 NET INCOME       $  8,217,000 $  5,404,000 $ 37,775,000 $ 27,808,000
                  ============ ============ ============ ============

  Basic           $       0.21 $       0.16 $       1.03 $       0.85
                  ============ ============ ============ ============

  Diluted         $       0.21 $       0.16 $       1.01 $       0.82
                  ============ ============ ============ ============

  Basic weighted
   average shares
   outstanding      38,928,001   33,254,620   36,774,163   32,789,280

  Diluted weighted
   average shares
   outstanding      39,603,819   34,268,329   37,451,098   33,936,074

                      GULFPORT ENERGY CORPORATION
                     CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                              (Unaudited)
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                                           December 31,   December 31,
                                              2007           2006
                                          -------------  -------------
                   Assets

 Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents               $   2,764,000  $   6,627,000
  Accounts receivable - oil and gas          10,510,000      7,585,000
  Insurance settlement receivables                   --        541,000
  Accounts receivable - related parties       2,208,000      4,202,000
  Prepaid expenses and other current
   assets                                     1,346,000        972,000
                                          -------------  -------------

   Total current assets                      16,828,000     19,927,000
                                          -------------  -------------

 Property and equipment:
  Oil and natural gas properties,
   full-cost accounting, $37,278,000 and
   $1,459,000 excluded from amortization
   in 2007 and 2006, respectively           484,487,000    250,838,000
  Other property and equipment                7,108,000      6,651,000
  Accumulated depletion, depreciation
   and amortization                        (129,496,000)   (99,815,000)
                                          -------------  -------------

   Property and equipment, net              362,099,000    157,674,000
                                          -------------  -------------

 Other assets:
  Equity investments                         33,822,000     14,363,000
  Other assets                                6,388,000      3,187,000
                                          -------------  -------------

   Total other assets                        40,210,000     17,550,000
                                          -------------  -------------

    Total assets                          $ 419,137,000  $ 195,151,000
                                          =============  =============

     Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable and accrued
   liabilities                            $  39,848,000  $  24,793,000
  Asset retirement obligation - current         480,000        480,000
  Current maturities of long-term debt          808,000        835,000
                                          -------------  -------------

   Total current liabilities                 41,136,000     26,108,000
                                          -------------  -------------

 Asset retirement obligation - long-term      8,154,000      8,378,000
 Long-term debt, net of current
  maturities                                 65,725,000     36,856,000
                                          -------------  -------------

   Total liabilities                        115,015,000     71,342,000
                                          -------------  -------------

 Commitments and contingencies

 Preferred stock, $.01 par value;
  5,000,000 authorized, 30,000 authorized
  as redeemable 12% cumulative preferred
  stock, Series A; 0 issued and
  outstanding                                        --             --

 Stockholders' equity:
  Common stock - $.01 par value,
   55,000,000 authorized, 42,453,587
   issued and outstanding in 2007 and
   33,659,759 in 2006                           424,000        337,000
  Paid-in capital                           271,807,000    131,610,000
  Accumulated other comprehensive income      2,254,000             --
  Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)    29,637,000     (8,138,000)
                                          -------------  -------------

   Total stockholders' equity               304,122,000    123,809,000
                                          -------------  -------------

    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                               $ 419,137,000  $ 195,151,000
                                          -------------  -------------

                      Gulfport Energy Corporation
                 Reconcilation of EBITDA and Cash Flow
                              (unaudited)

                     Three Months Ended         Twelve Months Ended
                 December 31,  December 31,  December 31,  December 31,
                    2007          2006          2007          2006
                 -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
 Net Income      $ 8,217,000   $ 5,404,000   $37,775,000   $27,808,000
 Interest
  expense          1,112,000       644,000     3,091,000     1,956,000
 Income tax
  expense             64,000            --       121,000            --
 Accretion
  expense            139,000       149,000       554,000       596,000
 Depreciation,
  depletion,
  and
  amortization     9,553,000     4,428,000    29,681,000    12,652,000
                 -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
 EBITDA          $19,085,000   $10,625,000   $71,222,000   $43,012,000
                 ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========

                     Three Months Ended         Twelve Months Ended
                 December 31,  December 31,  December 31,  December 31,
                    2007          2006          2007          2006
                 -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
 Cash provided
  by operating
  activity       $21,669,000   $11,587,000   $68,902,000   $39,523,000
 Adjustments:
  Changes in
   assets and
   liabilities    (3,184,000)   (1,533,000)      430,000     2,372,000
                 -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
 Operating Cash
  Flow           $18,485,000   $10,054,000   $69,332,000   $41,895,000
                 -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------

                     Gulfport Energy Corporation
 Supplemental Information on Oil and Gas Exploration and Production
                           Activities
                         March 12, 2008
                            Unaudited

 Total Oil and Natural Gas Proved Reserves               (M BOE)

 Proved Reserves

    December 31, 2006                                        23,159

    Purchases in place                                        6,630
    Revisions                                                  (416)
    Extensions, discoveries and other additions               1,422
    Sales in place                                               --
    Production                                               (1,637)
                                                      -------------
    December 31, 2007                                        29,158



 Costs Incurred in Oil and Gas Property Acquisition
  and Development Activities                               ($)

                                                           2007
                                                      -------------

 Acquisition                                          $  85,247,000
 Development of Proved Undeveloped Properties            55,930,000
 Exploratory                                             57,668,000
 Recompletions                                            9,875,000
 Capitalized Asset Retirement Obligation                    500,000
                                                      -------------

 Total                                                $ 209,220,000
                                                      =============
                     Gulfport Energy Corporation
                         Production Schedule
                             (Unaudited)

 Production Volumes:       4Q2007     4Q2006        2007       2006

 Oil (MBbls)                385.2      270.3      1,500.8      869.7
 Gas (MMcf)                 285.0      124.4        816.5      676.8
 Oil Equivalents (MBOE)     432.7      291.0      1,636.9      982.5

 Average Realized Price:

 Oil (per Bbl)             $74.66     $61.53       $66.71     $64.43
 Gas (per Mcf)              $7.19      $6.24        $7.40      $6.20
 Oil Equivalents (BOE)     $71.20     $59.82       $64.86     $61.30

                       Gulfport Energy Corporation
                         Forward Sales Contracts
                           As of March 12, 2008

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
          Month          Average Weighted Price          Barrels
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       January-08                $70.29                   3500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       February-08               $70.29                   3500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        March-08                 $70.29                   3500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        April-08                 $70.29                   3500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
         May-08                  $70.29                   3500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
         June-08                 $71.69                   3500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
         July-08                 $81.37                   3000
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        August-08                $82.44                   3000
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
      September-08               $82.20                   3000
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       October-08                $82.20                   3000
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       November-08               $82.20                   3000
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       December-08               $82.20                   3000
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       January-09                $84.62                   2500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       February-09               $84.62                   2500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        March-09                 $84.62                   2500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        April-09                 $84.62                   2500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
         May-09                  $84.62                   2500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
         June-09                 $84.62                   2500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
         July-09                 $84.62                   2500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
        August-09                $84.62                   2500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
      September-09               $84.62                   2500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       October-09                $84.62                   2500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       November-09               $84.62                   2500
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
       December-09               $84.62                   2500
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CONTACT:  Gulfport Energy Corporation
          Investor & Media Contact:
          John Kilgallon, Director, Investor Relations
          405-242-4474
          jkilgallon@gulfportenergy.com