Touchstone to tie in Trinidad and Tobago Central block well

Touchstone Exploration Inc. will tie in the Carapal Ridge-3 development well (CR-3), onshore Central block in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, after encountering hydrocarbon-bearing sands.

CR-3 spudded on Nov. 23, 2025, using Star Valley Drilling Rig #205 and was drilled to a total depth of 8,200 ft over a 35-day period. The primary target was the Herrera sands within the developed reservoir section currently on production above a 30-foot shale marker, as well as unproduced Herrera sands below the shale marker. The lower sands were previously completed and tested, but not produced, by a prior operator in the offsetting Carapal Ridge-1 well.

CR-3 encountered about 635 ft of net sand in the developed Herrera reservoir above the shale marker at 6,930 ft–7,770 ft and about 365 feet of net Herrera sand below the shale marker within the unproduced reservoir at 7,770–8,200 ft. Although drilling was terminated at 8,200 ft, the well remained within clean sand at total depth.

In addition to the Herrera sands, about 82 ft of net Karamat sands were also encountered directly above the Herrara formation at 6,530–6760 ft. These Karamat sands are also present in the Carapal Ridge-1 and Carapal Ridge-2 wells.

The well was originally planned as a deviated well targeting the Herrera sands. During drilling, however, the well naturally built angle in the production section, and about 341 ft was drilled horizontally into the unproduced Herrera sand package to optimize reservoir exposure. Open-hole wireline logging, mud logging, and drilling data collectively indicate the presence of hydrocarbon-bearing sands throughout the Herrera interval, extending to and including the end of the horizontal section.

Following open-hole logging operations, the well was cased for future production. Completion operations are under way, and the company intends to initially produce the undeveloped Herrera sands from the horizontal section of the well below the shale marker, while the uphole developed Herrera sands may be perforated later.

CR-3 will be tied into the Central block natural gas processing infrastructure with first gas targeted for first-quarter 2026.

The well results support the potential for up to three additional Herrera development wells on the Central block, the company said. CR-3 also established a second, uphole, gas-charged play in the Karamat formation, which is being evaluated as a stand-alone prospect for potential drilling.

Touchstone is operator (65%) with partner Heritage Petroleum Co. Ltd. holding the remaining 35%.