Touchstone Exploration Inc. is pleased to announce that the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs ("MEEA") has informed Touchstone that its application, made through the Company's wholly owned Trinidad subsidiary Primera Oil and Gas Limited, in the 2013 Trinidad and Tobago Onshore Bid Round was successful.
The Company will, subject to the terms of the Model Licence and the Company's bid proposal, hold discussions with the MEEA in order to finalize the Exploration and Production License for the Ortoire Block. These discussions are expected to conclude within the next month.
In October of 2013 Primera Oil and Gas Limited bid for an Exploration and Production Licence on the Ortoire Block, one of three available blocks in the 2013 Onshore Bid Round. Located in the South East portion of Trinidad and Tobago, the Ortoire Block includes approximately 44,500 contiguous acres and is adjacent to production from a variety of existing oil pools. The addition of the Ortoire Exploration Block will bring Touchstone's total land holdings in Trinidad and Tobago from approximately 23,700 working interest acres to 68,000 net acres, 63,000 of which are located onshore.
James Shipka, Vice President, Geosciences said "The Ortoire Exploration Block is an incredible opportunity for Touchstone as it is an extension of the well-known Southern Basin and presents exploration and development opportunities in a number of different horizons. As with the Company's existing budget, the commitments associated with bid are expected to be funded through future cash flows."
Jim Krissa, the Company's Country Manager in Trinidad and Tobago said "The high impact potential of the Ortoire Block gives the Company access to a significant amount of exploration acreage which will immediately be integrated into the Company's long-term operational plans in Trinidad and Tobago. With this new land Touchstone continues to move forward as a leader in onshore development and exploration in Trinidad."
Formal signing of the License is expected to take place in Port of Spain, Trinidad following the finalization of the License in conjunction with the MEEA.