CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – March 21, 2017) – Touchstone Exploration Inc. (“Touchstone” or the “Company”) (TSX:TXP) announces that the Trinidad and Tobago Minister of Energy and Energy Industries (“MEEI”) approved a reduction of the Company’s letter of credit supporting required work commitments on the East Brighton offshore property from US$6 million to US$2.15 million. The letter of credit is currently secured by funds held in trust.
The Company has proposed to drill the East Brighton commitment well from a location onshore to a bottom hole location target offshore as defined by 3D seismic. The estimated costs associated with the well is expected to be approximately US$2 million. The Company is also completing a further technical evaluation of the property and will provide a detailed report to the MEEI prior to the end of the year. The well is expected to be drilled following the technical evaluation and receipt of all required regulatory approvals. Upon the completion of the technical report the letter of credit is expected to be reduced by US$150,000, and upon the conclusion of the drilling operations the remaining US$2 million is also expected to be released.
James Shipka, Touchstone Chief Operating Officer, said, “We are very excited that Touchstone has been able to identify an exciting, 3D defined target that can be reached from the onshore location.” He went on to say, “With current commodity prices it allows us to evaluate the block in a cost-effective manner, and if successful, we could bring the well to the production stage very quickly.”
In conjunction with the approved US$3.85 million reduction of the East Brighton letter of credit, Touchstone announces the commencement of its 2017 capital program. The program will initially comprise the recompletion of 24 wells and the drilling of four wells. The 24 recompletions will target zones in existing wells that are located on various properties held by the Company. The initial targets will be in the Coora, WD-4 and WD-8 blocks with up to three recompletions targeted for later in the year on the Company’s Ortoire exploration block. The drilling program is expected to commence within the next 45 days with development wells planned to be drilled on the Coora-1, Coora-2, WD-4 and WD-8 blocks. The planned drilling program reflects the Company’s existing work commitments and will target the Forest and Cruse horizons in each property.
Paul Baay, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “The reduction in the letter of credit has allowed us to free up capital to commence our program. We have not drilled a well in 26 months and are excited to once again focus on production growth in 2017.”
Touchstone may expand the drilling program further based on the stability of commodity prices. The Board of Directors and Management review the capital program on a quarterly basis.
About Touchstone
Touchstone Exploration Inc. is a Calgary based company engaged in the business of acquiring interests in petroleum and natural gas rights, and the exploration, development, production and sale of petroleum and natural gas. Touchstone is currently active in onshore properties located in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The Company’s common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “TXP”.