Touchstone Exploration has reported early operational progress from two wells in Trinidad and Tobago, with initial gas testing at CR-3 and first production from PS-623 both described as encouraging.
The update covers activity at the Central block and the WD-4 development drilling campaign, alongside efforts to improve production reliability at Cascadura. Touchstone also said third-quarter 2026 sales volumes averaged 4,485 boe/d.
CR-3 completes Karamat interval
At the Central block’s Carapal Ridge-3 well, or CR-3, the company completed the Karamat sands interval during October. Cleanup and flow testing began on 19 October 2026.
During extended testing, the well recorded separate gross average natural gas test rates of approximately 5.0 MMcf/d and 6.8 MMcf/d at different choke settings. The company stressed that these preliminary rates are not necessarily indicative of stabilised production or long-term performance.
During cleanup operations, CR-3 recovered completion fluids and produced about 7.7 MMcf/d of natural gas at a flowing wellhead pressure of 650 psi on a 70 per cent open choke. It later built to approximately 2,600 psi shut-in wellhead tubing pressure before an isochronal well test at various choke sizes.
Over the four-day extended test, CR-3 produced at an average rate of approximately 5.0 MMcf/d of natural gas at a flowing wellhead pressure of about 500 psi on a 60 per cent open choke, and 6.8 MMcf/d at a flowing wellhead pressure of about 400 psi on an 80 per cent open choke. Minimal condensate has been produced and no formation water has been observed to date.
The well is connected to the Central block gas processing facility for export to sales at the Atlantic LNG facility under the Train 4 sales agreement. Well testing is continuing with downhole pressure recorders installed for a further flow and pressure build-up test.
Chief executive Paul R. Baay said: “It is encouraging to see the early test results from both the CR-3 and PS-623 wells, but it will take some time before we can better assess production decline behaviour and stabilized production rates from the wells. While it remains early days, the initial CR-3 well results may indicate an additional natural gas opportunity for us in the region that could help utilize available processing capacity at the Central block. We will provide updates as appropriate during ongoing testing and production.“
Touchstone said CR-3 is its first well targeting the Karamat reservoir at the Central block. The reservoir is present across the Carapal, Baraka and Baraka East fields. Subject to further geological and engineering evaluation, the Karamat interval may provide an additional development opportunity alongside the company’s ongoing Herrera reservoir programme. However, the results do not establish comparable reservoir quality, deliverability or commercial development potential at other locations.
The company is also planning a workover at Baraka-1 to evaluate a lower Herrera interval previously tested by a prior operator at gross peak rates of about 270 bbls/d of oil and 1.3 MMcf/d of natural gas.
PS-623 starts producing in WD-4 campaign
The first well in the two-well WD-4 development drilling campaign, PS-623, reached total depth on 4 October 2026 after being spudded on 19 September 2026. Wireline log interpretation indicated approximately 450 feet of potential net hydrocarbon pay between depths of 3,326 feet and 6,250 feet.
PS-623 was completed across 40 feet in the Cruse formation and placed onstream at a field-estimated flush production rate of 387 bbls/d of oil with a one per cent water cut during its first 24 hours of production. The company said flush rates are not indicative of stabilised rates and are expected to decline as production progresses.
The drilling rig has now mobilised to the second location in the campaign, where the next well is expected to spud shortly. As previously announced, the turnkey drilling costs for that second well will be covered by the drilling contractor, reducing the company’s capital exposure while the field is developed.
Cascadura reliability improves
At the Cascadura field, the booster compressor’s uptime availability improved to about 98 per cent in September after initial post-commissioning troubleshooting.
That reliability helped support average gross natural gas production of about 9.7 MMcf/d in July, 12.5 MMcf/d in August and 13.0 MMcf/d in September.
Touchstone plans three optimisation workovers before year-end 2026: a coiled tubing cleanout at Cascadura-3ST1, an oil zone recompletion at Cascadura-5, and a workover at Cascadura Deep-1 to commingle two previously producing Herrera reservoir zones. The company said those steps are intended to enhance well productivity, access additional producing intervals and further optimise output from the field.
In the Central block, a workover at Baraka-1 is also planned to evaluate a lower Herrera reservoir interval that was previously tested by a prior operator.
Third-quarter production
Touchstone reported third-quarter 2026 sales volumes of 4,485 boe/d, comprising approximately 19.4 MMcf/d of natural gas and 1,259 bbls/d of crude oil and liquids.
