Touchstone Exploration Inc. is pleased to announce a summary of our 2021 year-end reserves and an operational update.
Our independent reserves evaluation was prepared by GLJ Ltd. ("GLJ") with an effective date of December 31, 2021 (the "Reserves Report"). Highlights of our total proved ("1P"), total proved plus probable ("2P") and total proved plus probable plus possible ("3P") reserves from the Reserves Report are provided below. All finding and development ("F&D") costs below include changes in future development capital ("FDC"). Unless otherwise stated, all financial amounts referenced herein are stated in United States dollars. Financial information contained herein is based on the Company's unaudited results for the year ended December 31, 2021 and is subject to change. Readers are further cautioned to read the applicable advisories contained herein.
2021 Year-end Reserves Report Highlights
- Relative to year-end 2020, increased 3P gross reserves by 21% to 121,332 Mboe, increased 2P gross reserves by 16% to 75,547 Mboe and increased 1P gross reserves by 13% to 38,731 Mboe in 2021.
- Touchstone's net present value of future net revenues discounted at 10% ("NPV10") on a before tax 3P basis increased by 31% to $1.31 billion, before tax 2P NPV10 increased by 29% to $881.8 million and before tax 1P NPV10 increased by 31% to $474.9 million from the prior year.
- Realized after tax 3P NPV10 of $535.6 million, representing an increase of 28% from the prior year, after tax 2P NPV10 increased by 26% from year-end 2020 to $363.1 million and after tax 1P NPV10 increased by 29% from the prior year to $210 million.
- Achieved 1P F&D costs of $10.36 per boe, resulting in a recycle ratio of 2.6 times using our unaudited annual estimated 2021 operating netback of $26.55 per boe.
- Realized 2P F&D costs of $6.96 per boe, resulting in a 2P recycle ratio of 3.8 times, demonstrating our capital efficient operations on the Ortoire block.
- Relative to year-end 2020, increased Cascadura 1P reserves by 14% to 26,902 Mboe and 2P total reserves by 16% to 52,082 Mboe following our successful Cascadura Deep-1 well tested in 2021.
- The Royston exploration discovery was assigned gross working interest 3P reserves of 4,800 Mboe, gross working interest 2P reserves of 3,520 Mboe and gross working interest 1P reserves of 1,280 Mboe.
Our independent reserves evaluator estimates that the Royston structure has a low estimate of 128.3 MMbbl, a best estimate of 165.7 MMbbl and a high estimate of 211.7 MMbbl of total petroleum initially-in-place from the overthrust and intermediate sheets of the Herrera Formation, with no estimate provided in the subthrust sheet.
Paul Baay, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented:
"Our 2021 independent reserves evaluation confirms the significant opportunities at our Ortoire property and the profitability of all of our assets in Trinidad. The estimated additions of both future net revenues and reserves at the newly discovered Royston light oil pool are reflective of our successful drilling activities in 2021 and the considerable size of the prospect in the Herrera Formation. The initial Royston reserves evaluation was conservative, given only one well was drilled to date and no reserves were assigned to the subthrust sheet. We have two exciting opportunities to substantially increase reserves in the area with the Royston Deep well intended to evaluate the subthrust sheet of the Herrera Formation and the Kraken well targeting the deeper Cretaceous Formation.
We are proceeding with the final step to bring the Coho gas field online with anticipated first natural gas production in May 2022, which will represent a milestone for Touchstone and Trinidad. We also remain on track with our operations at Cascadura, as we have submitted the required regulatory applications and procured the long lead items for the surface facility, providing visibility to estimated completion in September 2022.
Our focus is to convert our extensive Trinidad resource base to cash flows while continuing to target further exploration opportunities across our licence areas. It is an exciting time for Touchstone, as it is rare to have a combination of solid low decline base production, a near-term step change in production, a multi-year development drilling program and extensive exploration opportunities. I would encourage anyone requiring additional information to view the updated corporate presentation available on our website."
Operational Highlights
With all relevant agreements executed, pipeline tie-in operations for the Coho-1 well are proceeding with anticipated first gas in May 2022 subject to weather conditions.
The Company is currently awaiting regulatory approvals to commence constructing the Cascadura natural gas facility, with equipment procurement and delivery of pressure vessels on track for facility completion in September 2022 assuming timely receipt of required regulatory approvals.
The extended flow test at Royston has confirmed the well is capable of over 675 bbls/d of light, sweet oil production from a combination of the overthrust and intermediate sheets of the Herrera Formation.
The three development wells drilled on our legacy crude oil blocks in the fourth quarter of 2021 have produced a field estimated 210 bbls/d since coming on production, contributing to our current field estimated aggregate net base production of approximately 1,449 bbls/d, excluding production testing volumes from Royston-1.
Operational Update
Coho
All of the required agreements with our third-party partners to allow for the final tie-in of the Coho gas field on the Ortoire block have been executed. Pipeline installation operations have commenced with first gas anticipated in May 2022 subject to weather delays that may hinder trenching and welding operations. Following testing and purging of the pipeline, we are anticipating natural gas production to increase over time to a gross target of 10 MMcf/d (8 MMcf/d net, representing approximately 1,333 boe/d net production).
Cascadura
The Cascadura facility is proceeding with the major facility components nearing completion for transportation to Trinidad. The components will be delivered on skids and will be assembled in the field by local contractors. In parallel with the facilities procurement and construction, we have submitted the required regulatory application and expect to receive a response on or before mid-May 2022. Upon approval, we will proceed with four distinct projects at Cascadura: road construction, condensate pipeline construction, facility construction and construction of future development drilling locations.
Royston
We commenced a long-term production test of the uppermost 84 feet of the Herrera overthrust section in January 2022 with the goal of evaluating different flowing regimes and possible pump configurations to maximize oil production. While conducting the test, approximately 2,200 feet of pipe and perforating guns were stuck in the bottom portion of the well, not allowing any further testing of the deeper zones. However, with these constraints, the well has continued to deliver both pumping and flowing volumes from the uppermost 84 feet.
Combined with the previous test in the intermediate zone, the well has shown that the completed intervals are capable of producing over 675 bbls/d of oil. Produced oil is being sold at our Barrackpore sales facility, and all associated water has been separated on-site and reinjected at our water disposal facility. We anticipate production testing continuing until the commencement of future drilling operations at Royston.
Legacy Wells
The three development wells drilled by the Company in the fourth quarter of 2021 are on production. Since being brought onstream, they have contributed an aggregate average of 210 bbls of net oil per day. We have prepared the next location on our Coora-1 block where we plan to drill two commitment infill wells targeting the Forest and Cruse Formations.
James Shipka, Chief Operating Officer, commenting on the Royston-1 well test, said:
"Testing of the Royston-1 exploration well resumed in early January with the well initially flowing at rates of over 250 barrels of oil per day from the uppermost 84 feet of the overthrust reservoir. Over the course of flow testing and, as anticipated, production rates gradually declined due to liquid loading in the wellbore and we subsequently moved a service rig to the location to install a pump to increase production. While attempting to raise the downhole assembly, we discovered an issue with the casing at approximately 7,250 feet that prevented us to run the optimized downhole pumping assembly. The wellbore could not be cleared, and we ultimately severed the existing tubing string at approximately 7,200 feet. In early February, we ran a downhole pump above the pre-existing tubing string, and we are currently working on optimizing production in this restricted configuration.
Despite these mechanical challenges, our testing program at Royston-1 has confirmed that the Royston structure will be a core oil development property for Touchstone. The light oil discoveries in the intermediate and overthrust sheets have displayed production rates in excess of 675 barrels of oil per day from the structure. With an independent estimate of up to 212 million barrels of total petroleum initially-in-place in the high case, including upside potential from the upper two sheets, Royston will be an exciting long-term project. Our 2021 reserves bookings reflect Royston's initial development stage, and we look forward to our future exploration wells which will further delineate and expand our understanding of the structure. Until then, we will continue our testing program at Royston to gather additional information and refine our model of the reservoir. The similarities between Royston and the Penal-Barrackpore fields are significant and have given us confidence in our understanding of how the different thrust sheets may contribute to the ultimate recovery of the field."
2021 Year-end Reserves Report Summary
Touchstone's 2021 capital program focused on exploration activities on our Ortoire property, where we conducted production testing operations on the Cascadura Deep-1 well drilled in the fourth quarter of 2020, completed the Royston area 22-kilometre seismic program, and drilled and tested the Royston-1 exploration well. In addition, we drilled three gross and net wells on our legacy oil properties representing our first infill drilling since 2019. The Reserves Report includes those reserves associated with our legacy development properties, our Coho natural gas discovery in 2019, our Cascadura discovery in 2020, as well as additions relating to the Cascadura Deep-1 and Royston-1 wells.
Touchstone's year-end crude oil, natural gas and NGL reserves in Trinidad were evaluated by independent reserves evaluator, GLJ, in accordance with definitions, standards and procedures contained in the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook and National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities ("NI 51-101"). 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 on or before March 31, 2022. The reserve estimates set forth below are based upon GLJ's Reserves Report dated March 4, 2022 with an effective date of December 31, 2021. All values in this news release are based on GLJ's forecast prices and estimates of future operating and capital costs as of December 31, 2021. Please refer to "Advisories: Reserves Advisories" for further information. In certain tables set forth below, the columns may not add due to rounding.
Reconciliation of Gross Reserves by Product Type
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of the Company's total gross proved, gross probable and total gross proved plus probable reserves as of December 31, 2021 by product type against such reserves as at December 31, 2020 based on forecast prices and cost assumptions.
In comparison to December 31, 2020 on a proved plus probable reserve basis, light and medium crude oil reserves increased 558 Mbbl from technical revisions, economic factors and drilling extensions in 2021. 222 Mbbl of the annual increase reflected improved well performance from our Coora, WD-4, WD-8, San Francique and Barrackpore blocks, and 316 Mbbl of this change was based on our 2021 drilling campaign at WD-4 and WD-8 resulting in drilling extension reserve additions. In addition, heavy crude oil was attributed downward technical revisions and economic factors of 21 Mbbl as of December 31, 2021, primarily due to reduced well performance at our Fyzabad block. Effective December 31, 2021, we sold our non-core New Dome, South Palo Seco, and Palo Seco properties, resulting in an aggregate decrease of 16 Mbbl.
Our successful Royston-1 exploration well drilled in 2021 on the Ortoire block led to a proved plus probable exploration discovery of 3,520 Mbbl of light and medium crude oil reserves in 2021. In addition, our Cascadura Deep-1 well which was tested in the first quarter of 2021 led to a 7,051 Mboe increase in proved plus probable conventional natural gas and NGL reserves as of December 31, 2021.
Forecast Pricing and Costs
Forecast pricing and costs are prices and costs that are generally acceptable, in the opinion of GLJ, as being a reasonable outlook of the future as of the evaluation effective date. The forecast cost assumptions consider inflation with respect to future operating and capital costs. The following table sets forth the benchmark reference prices and inflation rates reflected in the Reserves Data as of December 31, 2021. These price assumptions were provided to the Company by GLJ and were GLJ's then current forecast as of the date of the Reserves Report.
