Touchstone Exploration Inc. is preparing to begin drilling two-wells in Trinidad as the company advances development and production optimisation activities across its operations.

The Canadian-listed energy company said construction of two drilling locations on the WD-4 Block has been completed and the drilling rig has been mobilised to the site. 

The first well is expected to spud in mid-September.

The wells are commitment wells under the WD-4 Lease Operatorship Agreement and are intended to support additional oil production from the field.

Touchstone said the drilling contractor will cover the turnkey drilling costs associated with the second well, reducing the company’s capital exposure.

The company is also reporting encouraging results from an optimisation treatment at its Cascadura-2ST1 well in the Ortoire Block.

A solvent squeeze treatment designed to improve well productivity has delivered promising incremental production gains. Touchstone said it is assessing the potential to apply similar treatments at other Cascadura wells during the second half of 2026.

Two other Cascadura activities are planned for October, with a workover at Cascadura-3ST1 and a recompletion of Cascadura-5.

Meanwhile, the Cascadura booster compressor, which began operating on July 9, has recorded improved uptime following initial troubleshooting after commissioning.

Touchstone said uptime availability increased from about 57 per cent in July to 73 per cent in August. Over the same period, average gross natural gas production from Cascadura increased from approximately 9.7 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) in July to 12.6 MMcf/d in August, up from about 6.6 MMcf/d in June.

The company said its operations team is continuing to optimise the booster compressor system, with a target of 97 per cent uptime availability. Achieving that level is expected to provide additional capacity for increased natural gas production from Cascadura.

At the Carapal Ridge 3 (CR-3) well, Touchstone completed a coiled tubing cleanout and acid stimulation programme.

The company said the operation produced a limited production response and did not resolve reservoir damage caused by drilling operations. It is therefore preparing a completion programme targeting the uphole Karamat sands.

Touchstone also reported that natural gas sales volumes from the Central Block in July continued to be redirected to the Atlantic LNG Train 2/3 contract during downtime at Train 4.

The gas was sold at an estimated net-of-fees price of US$10.28 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf).

Across its operations, Touchstone said net sales production averaged 4,402 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) in July, while field-estimated net production averaged 4,392 boe/d in August.

The company said its operational activities in August and early September focused on development, workovers and production optimisation across the WD-4, Ortoire and Central blocks.