PRESS RELEASE

from Touchstone Exploration, Inc. (isin : CA89156L1085)

Touchstone Exploration Announces 2024 Year-End Reserves

CALGARY, AB / ACCESS Newswire / March 6, 2025 / Touchstone Exploration Inc. ("Touchstone", "we", "our" or the "Company") (TSX:TXP)(LSE:TXP) announces 2024 year-end reserves.

Touchstone's independent reserves evaluation was prepared by GLJ Ltd. ("GLJ") with an effective date of December 31, 2024 (the "Reserves Report"). Highlights of our total proved developed producing ("PDP"), total proved ("1P"), and total proved plus probable ("2P") reserves from the Reserves Report are provided below. Unless otherwise stated, all financial amounts referenced herein are stated in United States dollars. Readers are further cautioned to read the applicable advisories contained herein.

Paul Baay, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"Our year-end 2024 reserves report highlights the substantial potential of our asset base in Trinidad with the NPV10 of future net revenues of 2P reserves valued at approximately $671 million and $309 million on a before tax and after-tax basis, respectively. The combination of our base crude oil production and the early-stage development of our natural gas properties supports our ongoing transition from an exploration-driven company to one focused on predictable production growth.

The reserve estimates for this year reflect a material balance assessment approach based on the data collected at Cascadura. This revised methodology, compared to the previous volumetric interpretation, aligns reserve estimates with our forecasted production curves.

The addition of light oil reserves from the Cascadura-3ST1 discovery underscores the significant potential of this emerging play. While the current reserves include a limited number of future crude oil drilling locations, we plan to expand this potential through further delineation and development in the Rio Claro block.

A key highlight of the year is the previously announced acquisition of Shell Trinidad Central Block Limited, which provides access to the lucrative Trinidad liquefied natural gas market. Notably, our year-end 2024 reserves report does not reflect any additional reserves from the proposed acquisition. An independent evaluation of the acquired reserves will be provided following the expected completion of the proposed transaction."

2024 Operational Highlights

  • Successfully completed the Cascadura C pipeline and facility expansion, increasing processing capacity and supporting future production growth.

  • Drilled and brought onstream the Cascadura-2ST1 and Cascadura-3ST1 wells.

  • Advanced the development of the CO-1 crude oil block with the drilling and production commencement of the CO-374 and CO-375 wells.

  • Delivered strong performance from our CO-1, WD-4 and WD-8 blocks through targeted infill drilling, optimization programs, and recompletion activities, resulting in notable increases in light and medium crude oil reserves.

  • Fourth quarter production was strengthened by the successful startup of the Cascadura-2ST1 and Cascadura-3ST1 development wells, resulting in average quarterly net production of 5,287 boe/d and 2024 annual average net production of 5,734 boe/d.

Year-end 2024 Reserves Overview and Highlights
Touchstone's year-end reserves highlight the successful addition of crude oil reserves from the Cascadura-3ST1 discovery, located east of Fault-C, alongside a revision to the natural gas and NGL reserves west of Fault-C at Cascadura. Comprehensive data from the Cascadura field underscores the need for further development drilling to fully realize the natural gas potential. With an established pipeline network and infrastructure in place, the Company is positioned for efficient and cost-effective future development.

  • The net present value of future net revenues discounted at 10 percent ("NPV10") on a before tax 1P basis decreased by 5 percent to $354.4 million and declined by 8 percent to $671 million on a 2P basis from the prior year.

  • Realized after tax 1P NPV10 of $178.8 million represented a decrease of 7 percent from the prior year and after tax 2P NPV10 declined by 10 percent from year-end 2023 to $308.5 million.

  • Relative to year-end 2023 and after 2024 production, gross 1P reserves declined by 14 percent to 29,070 Mboe and gross 2P reserves decreased by 26 percent to 50,063 Mboe in 2024.

  • Reductions in our year-end reserves balances from 2023 reflected technical revisions to the natural gas reserves and NGL yields at Cascadura, reserve discoveries at Cascadura-3ST1, positive technical revisions at our crude oil blocks, acquisition and development activities, and increased annual production volumes in 2024.

  • We continue to maintain an extensive producing reserve life index of 8.7 years 1P and 12.9 years 2P, reflecting the long producing life of our asset base.

2024 Year-end Reserves Report Summary
Touchstone's year-end light and medium crude oil, heavy crude oil, conventional natural gas and natural gas liquid reserves in Trinidad were evaluated by an independent reserves evaluator, GLJ, in accordance with definitions, standards, and procedures contained in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook ("COGE Handbook") and National Instrument 51-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101").

The reserve estimates set forth below are based upon GLJ's Reserves Report dated March 5, 2025, with an effective date of December 31, 2024. The Reserves Report uses the average price forecasts of the three leading Canadian oil and gas evaluation consultants (GLJ, McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd., and Sproule Associates Ltd. (collectively, the "Consultants")). All values in this news release are based on the three Consultants' average forecast pricing and GLJ's estimates of future operating and capital costs as of December 31, 2024.

Additional reserves information as required under NI 51-101 will be included in the Company's Annual Information Form, which will be filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) on or before March 31, 2025. Please refer to "Advisories: Reserves Disclosure" for further information. In certain tables set forth below, the columns may not add due to rounding.

2024 Reserves Summary by Category

PDP

1P

2P

Total gross reserves(1)(Mboe)

6,836

29,070

50,063

Reserve reductions(2)(Mboe)

4,614

2,529

15,219

NPV10 before income tax(3)($000's)

79,380

354,425

670,965

NPV10 after income tax(3)($000's)

66,444

178,841

308,536

Notes:

  1. Gross reserves are the Company's working interest share before deduction of royalty obligations.

  2. Reserve reductions exclude 2024 annual production. See "Advisories: Oil and Gas Metrics".

  3. Based on the Consultants' average December 31, 2024 forecast prices and costs. See "Forecast Prices and Costs" herein.

Summary of Crude Oil and Natural Gas Reserves by Product Type

Company Gross(1) Reserves

Light and Medium Crude Oil (Mbbl)

Heavy Crude Oil

(Mbbl)

Conventional Natural Gas (MMcf)

Natural Gas Liquids (Mbbl)(2)

Total Oil Equivalent (Mboe)

Proved

Developed producing

3,661

276

17,158

40

6,836

Developed non-producing

1,232

-

-

-

1,232

Undeveloped

4,468

-

96,219

498

21,002

Total Proved

9,360

276

113,377

537

29,070

Probable

8,889

56

70,750

257

20,993

Total Proved plus Probable

18,249

332

184,127

794

50,063

Company Net(3) Reserves

Light and Medium Crude Oil (Mbbl)

Heavy Crude Oil

(Mbbl)

Conventional Natural Gas (MMcf)

Natural Gas Liquids (Mbbl)(2)

Total Oil Equivalent (Mboe)

Proved

Developed producing

2,206

246

15,013

35

4,989

Developed non-producing

847

-

-

-

847

Undeveloped

3,318

-

84,192

435

17,785

Total Proved

6,371

246

99,205

470

23,621

Probable

6,762

50

61,906

225

17,354

Total Proved plus Probable

13,133

295

161,111

695

40,975

Notes:

  1. Gross reserves are the Company's working interest share before deduction of royalty obligations.

  2. NGLs are comprised of 100% condensate.

  3. Net reserves are the Company's working interest share after the deduction of royalty obligations.

Summary of Net Present Values of Future Net Revenues

Net Present Values Before Income Taxes(1)($000's)

Undiscounted

Discounted at 5%

Discounted at 10%

Discounted at 15%

Discounted at 20%

Proved

Developed producing

107,621

91,031

79,380

70,773

64,166

Developed non-producing

35,598

27,992

23,371

20,155

17,733

Undeveloped

399,971

313,410

251,674

206,219

171,844

Total Proved

543,190

432,432

354,425

297,147

253,743

586,975

420,133

316,540

247,058

197,997

Probable

586,975

420,133

316,540

247,058

197,997

Total Proved plus Probable

1,130,164

852,565

670,965

544,204

451,739

Net Present Values After Income Taxes(1)(2)($000's)

Undiscounted

Discounted at 5%

Discounted at 10%

Discounted at 15%

Discounted at 20%

Proved

Developed producing

76,254

72,452

66,444

60,866

56,103

Developed non-producing

12,725

11,918

11,115

10,407

9,762

Undeveloped

169,089

129,627

101,282

80,492

64,930

Total Proved

258,068

213,997

178,841

151,765

130,794

Probable

237,847

173,085

129,696

99,906

78,732

Total Proved plus Probable

495,915

387,081

308,536

251,671

209,526

Notes:

  1. Based on the three Consultants' average December 31, 2024 forecast prices and costs. See "Forecast Prices and Costs" herein.

  2. The after-tax net present values prepared by GLJ in the evaluation of the Company's petroleum and natural gas assets presented herein are calculated by considering current Trinidad tax regulations and are based on the Company's estimated tax pools and non-capital losses as of December 31, 2024. The values reflect the expected income tax burden on the assets on a consolidated basis. Values do not represent an estimate of the value at the business entity level or consider tax planning, which may be significantly different. See "Advisories: Unaudited Financial Information".

Reconciliation of Gross Reserves by Product Type
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the Company's total gross proved, gross probable, and gross proved plus probable reserves as of December 31, 2024, by product type against such reserves as at December 31, 2023, based on forecast prices and cost assumptions.

Reserves Category and Factors

Light and Medium Crude Oil (Mbbl)

Heavy Crude Oil

(Mbbl)

Conventional Natural Gas (MMcf)

Natural Gas Liquids (Mbbl)(1)

Total Oil Equivalent (Mboe)

Total Proved

December 31, 2023(2)

8,538

234

140,743

1,467

33,696

Discoveries(3)

375

-

15

-

378

Extensions and improved recovery(4)

763

-

-

-

763

Technical revisions(5)

552

63

(17,758)

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