CALGARY, Feb. 17, 2012 /CNW/ - Penn West Petroleum Ltd. (TSX:PWT) (NYSE:PWE) ("Penn West") is pleased to provide tax information to assist individual U.S. shareholders in reporting the distribution received from Penn West Energy Trust and dividends received from Penn West on their IRS Form 1040 - U.S. Individual Income Tax Return for the 2011 calendar year.

This information can be found by following the link below or by accessing the Penn West Exploration website at www.pennwest.com.

http://www.pennwest.com/distributions-taxation/tax-information.asp

For further information:

PENN WEST EXPLORATION
Penn West Plaza
Suite 200, 207 - 9th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 1K3

Murray Nunns, President & Chief Executive Officer
Phone: 403-218-8939
E-mail: murray.nunns@pennwest.com

Jason Fleury, Senior Manager, Investor Relations
Phone: 403-539-6343
E-mail: jason.fleury@pennwest.com

Investor Relations:
Toll Free: 1-888-770-2633
E-mail: investor_relations@pennwest.com
Phone: 403-777-2500
Fax: 403-777-2699
Toll Free: 1-866-693-2707
Website: www.pennwest.com