Touchstone Exploration Announces Preliminary 2025 Guidance

In This Article:

Touchstone Exploration Inc. ("Touchstone", "we", "our" or the "Company") (TSX:TXP)(LSE:TXP) announces its preliminary annual 2025 capital budget and financial guidance.

Paul Baay, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"Our 2025 strategy focuses on driving sustainable growth by building on the success of our foundational Cascadura asset. We aim to fully leverage the extensive infrastructure and flowline installations completed in 2024 to unlock the field's potential. Our preliminary 2025 capital budget focuses on executing our "drill-to-fill" strategy, which involves drilling four gross Cascadura development wells to increase production and optimize asset performance. This approach will enable us to capitalize on the existing processing capacity established at our Cascadura facility.

We intend to fund this program through operating cash flows generated from our assets, complemented by a near-term increase in our debt facilities. With prudent financial management, we expect to exit 2025 with a net debt level consistent with that of 2024, demonstrating our commitment to maintaining financial stability.

I want to extend my gratitude to our employees, shareholders, and stakeholders for their unwavering support and trust. At Touchstone, we remain dedicated to delivering operational excellence, guided by a culture that prioritizes safety above all else. Building on the achievements of 2024 - including substantial production growth and the expansion of critical infrastructure to enhance operational efficiencies - we are excited to carry this momentum into 2025."

2025 Budget Highlights

  • Planned expansion of debt facilities - We plan to increase our existing debt capacity by $10 million in the first quarter of 2025 to manage the forecasted timing of the 2025 capital program. No firm commitment is currently in place with our existing lender.

  • Capital budget allocation - We project to invest approximately $23 million in capital expenditures for 2025. Of this, approximately $20 million is expected to be directed toward our Cascadura field. The remaining $3 million is allocated to exploration licence payments and well optimization operations across our crude oil properties.

  • Drilling operations - To further optimize our existing Cascadura infrastructure, our preliminary 2025 capital budget includes the drilling of four gross (3.2 net) Cascadura development wells. Two wells are expected to be drilled from pad B in the first quarter of 2025, followed by two additional wells from pad C in the third quarter of 2025.

  • Production growth - We project a mid-point annual average production of 7,000 boe/d for 2025, reflecting an estimated 19 percent increase from our latest 2024 guidance. Annual production is expected to range between 6,700 and 7,300 boe/d, with approximately 77 percent of production being natural gas.

  • Funds flow generation and balance sheet strength - Our 2025 budget is projected to generate approximately $22 million in funds flow from operations. This will result in a net debt to annual funds flow from operations ratio of 1.36 times, well within the Company's internal target of 2.0 times or below. Net debt at the end of 2025 is expected to be comparable with our forecasted 2024 closing position, underscoring our commitment to maintaining financial discipline during a period of growth.