May 1 (Reuters) - Gran Tierra Energy Inc GTE.TO :
* . ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2018 RESULTS HIGHLIGHTED BY STRONG FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE, RECORD COMPANY PRODUCTION AND ENHANCED FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY
* AVERAGE QUARTERLY COLOMBIA PRODUCTION OF 35,075 BOE PER DAY IN Q1 2018, 23 PCT HIGHER THAN 28,481 BOEPD IN Q1 2017
* QTRLY EARNINGS PER SHARE $0.05
* 2018 PRODUCTION TO AVERAGE 36,500 TO 38,500 BOEPD, WHICH WOULD REPRESENT ANNUAL GROWTH FROM 2017 AVERAGE OF 16% TO 23 PCT
* SEES 2018 TOTAL CAPITAL $275 MILLION-$295 MILLION
* SEES 2018 TOTAL CAPITAL BUDGET $275 MILLION-$295 MILLION (ADDS DROPPED WORD 'BUDGET')