Touchstone Exploration        PRIVATE PLACEMENT UPDATE

CALGARY, ALBERTA (June 16, 2025)

Touchstone Exploration Inc. (“Touchstone” or the “Company”) (TSX, LSE: TXP) provides the following update regarding its previously announced private placement:-

Further to the Company’s May 8, 2025 announcement regarding a £15.375 million private placement arranged by Portillion Capital and OAK Securities, the Company advises that £10.325 million of the gross proceeds remains outstanding. Touchstone has been informed that Portillion Capital and OAK Securities are finalizing documentation related to the settlement of proceeds from certain institutional investors. The Company expects to receive the outstanding funds on or before the close of business on June 20, 2025.

To date, the Company has received £5.05 million in gross proceeds, with the corresponding settlement completed through the issuance of new Touchstone common shares of no-par value. These proceeds have been allocated to the ongoing Cascadura drilling program and for general working capital purposes. The delay in receiving the remaining funds has not impacted the Company’s current capital activities.

On May 16, 2025, the Company issued 75,000,000 new common shares to the settlement agent acting on behalf of OAK Securities. Of these, 24,636,586 common shares have been distributed to investors. The remaining 50,363,414 shares are being held by the settlement agent and will be issued upon receipt of the outstanding funds.

The Toronto Stock Exchange has extended its conditional approval of the private placement, permitting the Company to complete the offering on or before June 20, 2025.

Touchstone will provide a further update in due course.

 

Moonilal seeks more gas from Manatee

8 June

Praising the company for progress on the project, Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal urged Shell to boost gas output from the Manatee Project to ease the gas shortage. This includes the most recent development, arrival of the MV Vox Amalia Hopper Dredger to conduct trenching operations for a component of the Manatee pipeline.

On June 7, the minister highlighted the history of the project, which spans several years and multiple administrations.

“In 2003 a MoU concerning the procedure for the unitisation of cross-border hydrocarbon reservoirs was successfully negotiated and executed by Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela.

In 2007, a Framework Treaty on Unitisation of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs that extend across the delimitation line was signed and served as a template for the Unitisation Treaties for individual reservoirs.”

In August 2010 and in February 2015, the People’s Partnership government, led by Kamla Persad-Bissessar, signed field-specific treaties for Loran-Manatee and Manakin-Cocuina cross-border fields respectively.

“These two agreements meant that there was agreement, after technical study, as to the apportionment between both countries of the Original Gas in Place (OGIP). This was an important step towards the development of the Manatee project.

With this understanding, the Manatee field was de-unitised from the larger cross-border Loran Manatee field and development was made possible under the production sharing contract covering this field between the ministry and Shell.”

He emphasised the urgency of the project under this new administration.

“The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries is very focused on working with Shell to ensure the safe delivery of the Manatee project and first gas by 2027. This is an important step to right siding the shortage of natural gas we inherited in April 2025 which has negatively impacted industrial output, government revenue and foreign exchange earnings.”

Hoping to revitalise Trinidad and Tobago’s energy sector, Moonilal said: “Given the gas crisis we inherited, in the coming months we will be working with Shell to see if there are opportunities to increase the volumes of gas Manatee can bring to Trinidad and Tobago’s economy.”

 

 

 

Energy Ministers meet upstream executives

Energy Minister Roodal Moonilal and Minister Ernesto Kesar, met Paul Baay, president and CEO, Touchstone Exploration (Trinidad) Ltd; Xavier Moonan, exploration manager, Touchstone Exploration (Trinidad) Ltd, ; Priya Maharaj, director, Touchstone Exploration (Trinidad) Ltd; and Scott Budau, CFO, Touchstone Exploration (Trinidad) Ltd at the MEEI

As part of government commitment to boosting local energy production, Energy Minister Roodal Moonilal met executives at upstream operator DeNovo and oil and gas producer Touchstone Exploration (Trinidad) Ltd.

Moonilal held an introductory meeting on June 11 with Touchstone CEO Paul Baay which focused on the company’s achievements in attaining exploration and production licences and gas production between 2013 and 2023. Baay attributed this success to local partnerships which contributed to developing onshore gas processing.

Moonilal thanked Touchstone for its key role in onshore gas development and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting the ease of doing business in the energy sector. The government’s goal is to ensure that TT re-emerges as the regional energy hub by enhancing its legacy infrastructure and creating added value through investments.

He emphasised this in his meeting with DeNovo CEO Brian Ramsumair and CFO Kris Sookdeo on the same day. DeNovo executives thanked the ministry for its continuous support and emphasised its commitment to further exploration and production in the marine environment as the company continues to assess the feasibility of prospective projects.

Moonilal thanked DeNovo for its ongoing commitment and said the government stands ready to evaluate and support measures to increase production feasibly.

He recognised the rich history in production and exploration and said the regional production maturity does not eliminate the possibility of future basin-wide exploration.

“The ministry together with DeNovo remains committed to continuing to work together to ensure the maximised production of natural resources for the benefit of the TT’s citizens.”

 

 

 

Shell explores boosting gas output from Manatee field

22 JUNE

Shell Trinidad and Tobago is open to exploring the possibility of increasing gas production from the Manatee field, in response to a call from Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, Shell’s senior vice-president and country chair Adam Lowmass has said.

The proposed boost in output is expected to ease the country’s ongoing gas shortages and support Government revenue.

The development offers a glimmer of hope, coming just days after Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo painted a grim picture of the country’s fiscal outlook, including a projected $9.67 billion deficit.

Moonilal previously indicated that the ministry was very focused on working with Shell to ensure the safe delivery of the Manatee project and first gas by 2027.

He said yesterday: “This is an important step to right-siding the shortage of natural gas that we inherited in April 2025 and which has negatively impacted industrial output, government revenue and foreign exchange earnings. Given the gas crisis we inherited, in the coming months we will be working with Shell to see if there are opportunities to increase the volumes of gas Manatee can bring to the Trinidad and Tobago economy.”

Lowmass told the Sunday Express in a telephone interview yesterday that it is possible to increase volumes.

“Shell Trinidad and Tobago is committed to the development of the Manatee project. We continue to work closely with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and other relevant parties to progress the project. We welcome the opportunity to work with the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries on opportunities to enhance the value of the Manatee field,” he said.

“We welcome the opportunity to work closely with the minister on the project to increase the value of the field, so the next couple of months we will work with him and his office to see how we can progress with that. There are a couple of opportunities available to look at increasing the daily production,” he added.

Lowmass recalled that Shell recently declared the final investment decision for the Aphrodite project.

“It’s tied back to the existing Dolphin platform in the East Coast Marine Area and that will bring just over 100 million standard cubic feet a day on stream in 2027, assuming that it performs as expected,” he said.

“I think the next couple of years with the decline in production, until things like Manatee and Aphrodite come on, will be a little bit hard; but the future after that looks relatively positive from our perspective,” said Lowmass.

‘Every molecule of gas counts’

In a telephone interview with the Sunday Express yesterday, Moonilal said the ministry is prepared to work with Shell to facilitate what is needed to increase volumes.

“The Manatee project is slated to deliver 604 million cubic feet per day by 2027. Further to a call I made for Shell to deliver more natural gas production from Manatee’s reserves, Shell has indicated their willingness to explore that possibility. The ministry is prepared to work with Shell to facilitate any modifications to the plans for Manatee that would facilitate levels of production above the stated 604 million cubic feet of natural gas per day,” he said.

With regard to the Aphrodite project, the minister noted this was recently approved by Shell and its first gas is expected in 2027 at a rate of 104 million cubic feet per day, which will complement the additions from Manatee in that year.

“In the grand scheme of things, the volume may seem small, but every molecule of natural gas counts when you are in a shortage like the one we inherited in April 2025,” he said.

Moonilal said there is hope for the future despite the dismal figures presented, which revealed a ballooning deficit.

“There is hope; there are a number of discussions going on with the upstream producers of natural gas to maximise their investments and to bring new natural gas into commercial production,” he said.

“The BP Cypre project which is the result of the fiscal incentives put in place by the first Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration in 2014 has been a positive for Trinidad and Tobago,” he added.

Moonilal said this project began production in April 2025 and is currently supporting national natural gas output, which averaged 2.7 billion cubic feet per day in May 2025.

“As natural gas production begins to recover by 2027, we will see greater inflows of revenue and foreign exchange into the country. We also have plans to increase drilling activity in acreage currently held by Heritage with a view to turning around oil production, which is now unacceptably at approximately 50,000 barrels per day,” he said.

The former People’s National Movement (PNM) government had placed high hopes on the Dragon gas deal with Venezuela, with projected yields in 2027.

However, under United States President Donald Trump’s administration, this was placed in limbo.

“The US government cancelled the two OFAC licences that were related to the Dragon and Manakin-Cocuina projects. Without these licences, investors like Shell and BP would be exposed to US sanctions if they ventured to invest in Dragon and Manakin-Cocuina respectively. Contrary to what is being suggested by the Opposition PNM, the UNC Government is not elated by this turn of events, but we respect that the United States has a right to determine their foreign policy. There is always room for dialogue and diplomacy, and we remain very engaged with the US government on matters of energy sector collaboration.”

Moonilal has been in office for close to two months since the United National Congress (UNC) won the general election on April 28.

Asked about his tenure so far and the prospects ahead, he responded: “Trinidad and Tobago’s energy sector is endowed with a stable political environment, great human capital and world-class infrastructure. These are the building blocks for making the country into the hub of what is emerging rapidly as one of the centres of the global oil and gas industry. There is also a lot of potential to turn around oil production. I think the last government did not focus on oil production. With the correct policies, we can get investment to flow again towards oil production,” he stated.

He said Shell has expressed “great confidence” in the Government and the economy going forward.

“Other leading players in the energy sector will follow soon to ramp up production and participate in our new vision of Trinidad and Tobago as the energy hub of the Caribbean. It is not coincidental that we are receiving news of final investment decisions post-April 2025. The word is out—when the UNC wins, the energy sector wins,” he said.

Moonilal concluded: “We are excited with new near-term projects that will increase employment and generate more income distribution in previously depressed regions.”

Last year, Shell was the country’s second-largest natural gas producer, accounting for 23% of output at an average rate of 586 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d).

The Loran-Manatee field was discovered in 1983. Loran represented the portion of the field in Venezuelan waters and Manatee represents the portion of the field in Trinidad and Tobago waters.

In 2007 the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of Venezuela signed a Framework Treaty covering all cross-border fields and in 2010 they signed a Unitisation Agreement specifically covering Loran-Manatee.

In 2019, the two governments terminated the Unitisation Agreement and entered into another government-to-government agreement, allowing each country to independently develop its respective share of the Loran-Manatee field.

The project will involve a Normally Unattended Installation platform located in the East Coast Marine Area (ECMA) acreage with eight development wells via a 110 km 32” pipeline to the Shell-operated onshore Beachfield gas processing facility, for onward export to the Atlantic LNG facility, and to the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago for the domestic gas market.

The Aphrodite field was discovered in 2022. Ealier this month Shell Trinidad and Tobago Ltd, a subsidiary of Shell plc, announced it had taken a Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Aphrodite project, an undeveloped gas field in the petroliferous East Coast Marine Area . Aphrodite will allow Shell to incrementally expand its Integrated Gas business by building on existing developments in one of the country’s most prolific gas-producing areas.

The ECMA gas province holds Shell’s largest gas-producing fields in the country- Dolphin, Dolphin Deep, Starfish, Bounty and Endeavour. Once online, this gas field will serve as a backfill for Atlantic. Increased production will help to maximise the potential utilisation of Shell’s existing assets.

“This investment is testament to our commitment to help secure the energy future of Trinidad and Tobago on several fronts” said Lowmass on June 3. “By increasing the gas supply to Atlantic LNG, the project will not only serve to fortify the domestic gas market, it will also boost the local petrochemical and power-generation industries.”

Development of the Aphrodite field remains subject to receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals, and once approved, is expected to start production in 2027 with an estimated peak production of approximately 18,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) (107 MMscf/d)

 

 

 

Shell plans subsea trenching at Manatee field

Shell’s new project  will involve an installation platform with eight development wells at the Manatee gas field.

Shell TT announced continuation of operations to develop the Manatee project.   On June 5, Shell said the MV Vox Amalia Hopper Dredger is mobilising from Chaguaramas to the East Coast Marine Area (ECMA) to conduct subsea trenching activities as preparation works necessary for the installation of the nearshore section of the 32-inch Manatee pipeline.

A smaller vessel, the Adel, will support the MV Vox Amalia. The notice showed a map of the coordinates where both vessels will operate. Shell said this activity should be completed in three to four weeks. Any vessels within this area are advised to maintain a berth of 500 metres. Upon completion of the work, the MV Vox Amalia and the Adel will return to Chaguaramas for demobilisation.

On June 5, former energy minister Stuart Young said, “Work continues on Manatee. Thankfully, Trinidad and Tobago continues to benefit from the visionary hard work that we did. The ability for us to produce the gas from Manatee was negotiated successfully with the government of Venezuela in Caracas in 2019. We then engaged in complex negotiations with Shell and executed a new PSC (production sharing contract) with Shell in 2021.”

He said, in 2023, the government secured a contract for gas supply for NGC (National Gas Company) from Shell from the Manatee field.

Last July, announcing its final investment decision for Manatee, green lighting the project for implementation, Shell said the project will involve an installation platform with 8 development wells. The platform will be connected to a 110-km-long pipeline to the Shell-operated Beachfield gas processing facility. This will then be taken to the Atlantic LNG facility and to NGC for production for the domestic gas market. Shell said Manatee will allow Shell to grow its integrated gas business by building on developments in the ECMA off the southeast coast of Trinidad, home to Shell’s largest gas-producing fields, Dolphin, Starfish, Bounty and Endeavour.

Manatee will also provide backfill for the country’s Atlantic LNG facility. The release noted that increasing utilisation at existing LNG plants is important to maximising potential for the company’s existing assets.

The Loran-Manatee field was discovered in 1983, about 100 km off the east coast of Trinidad.The field is at an average water depth of 105 metres/340 feet. The Loran field represents the sector in Venezuelan waters and the Manatee represents the portion in TT waters. Loran-Manatee field has an estimated 10.04 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas, with the Manatee field having over 2.7 tcf. Manatee is expected to reach peak production of approximately 104,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d). Shell’s advisory on Manatee comes a day after the company announced the green light on its Aphrodite project located in the ECMA. Once approved, Aphrodite is expected to start production in 2027 with an estimated peak production of approximately 18,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) (107 MMscf/d).

“This project is an investment of over US$1 billion and secures our country’s energy security as the largest investment in decades. Despite the challenges we persevered and got it done. I am pleased to see it progressing as envisaged. Hard work, competence, honesty and integrity produced real results every time.”

 

 

 

FourPhase Secures Contract with Shell Trinidad & Tobago

10 June 2025

FourPhase, a solids and production performance specialist for the oil and gas sector, reveals a new MSA with Shell Trinidad and Tobago, involving sand management and production optimisation on Shell Trinidad & Tobago topside offshore oil and gas platform.

Since 2019, FourPhase has successfully completed operations in the Americas, where they helped operators unlock greater production in deep-water and shallow-water assets. Leveraging a rental-based business model, FourPhase also supported multiple coiled tubing clean-out campaigns in the region.

Chief Financial Officer Lasse Byrkjeland said, ‘Our previous operations have shown that our technology can be deployed successfully in the region. With several projects confirmed for 2025, we’re predicting a significant increase in this strategically important region. We are looking forward to sharing more news of our successes this year.”

The demand for solids management services is growing in the region due to sand-related production losses. Many wells are choked back or shut in due to high sand levels, but effective sand management can help increase operator’s production and margins.   As a result, FourPhase Inc. established a new office in Houston to better service this region. This is a pivotal step in their growth journey and being closer to key operators and decision-makers will allow them to strengthen partnerships and better serve their customers. With a strong foundation already in place, including recent contracts, MSAs and operational successes, FourPhase is poised to continue delivering innovative solids management solutions to operators in the Americas.

FourPhase also secured two other contracts in the region for another Global Super Major in the Americas. This includes one other Master Service Agreement (MSAs) and a new contract for a plug and abandon intervention, together with coiled tubing (CT).

Source: FourPhase

 

 

 

 

Subsea7 lands sizeable contract for Shell gas project

Aphrodite award adds momentum to Subsea7’s strategic push , where international operators are accelerating efforts to unlock gas reserves

Xu Yihe
Singapore

Oslo-listed Subsea7 has secured a “sizeable” contract from Shell, valued at between $50 million and $150 million, for the development of the Aphrodite gas project offshore Trinidad & Tobago.The workscope includes the transportation and installation of subsea infrastructure at the Aphrodite field, located in Block 5a, in water depths of up to 290 metres.

Project management and engineering work will start immediately from Subsea7’s Houston office, with offshore operations scheduled for 2027.   Atlantic, one of the world’s largest producers of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the company produces LNG from natural gas delivered from fields in and around Trinidad and Tobago to its liquefaction facility, located in Point Fortin, on the southwest coast of Trinidad.

 

Atlantic LNG

Atlantic remains a profitable world class business, with an established and proven record in safety, plant utilisation, gas turbine reliability and sustainability. The energy producer plays a key role as a catalyst for the continued growth and development of Trinidad and Tobago. As a direct result of revenue which contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and through people and community development, Atlantic continues as a leader in the local and global hydrocarbon industry.

Incorporated in 1995 to develop a natural gas liquefaction plant in Point Fortin, Atlantic operates a liquefaction facility with a total capacity of 15 million metric tonnes per annum (tpa). Trains use the Phillips Optimised Cascade Process which cools natural gas using refrigerants until it liquefies at atmospheric pressure. A port area has two (2) 700-metre jetties, an approach channel for LNG carriers to berth at the jetty and a turning basin. Each jetty can accommodate an LNG carrier of approximately 171,000 cubic metres in size. Each Train is ultimately owned by a holding company comprising different Member companies.

The plant also produces natural gas liquids (NGLs) which are delivered to a third party under separate arrangements. The primary business of Atlantic is the liquefaction of natural gas. It excludes exploration, distribution and shipping.

 

 

 

Subsea7 wins Shell contract for Aphrodite

2025, 06/10

Days after Shell confirmed its Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Aphrodite project, Subsea7 announced that Shell awarded the company a sizeable contract for the undeveloped natural gas field in the East Coast Marine Area (ECMA). The contract is for transportation and installation of subsea equipment at the Aphrodite development within Block 5a, at water depths of up to 290 metres. Project management and engineering activities will begin immediately at the Subsea7 office in Houston, Texas, with offshore operations planned for 2027.

Craig Broussard, senior vice president for Subsea7 Gulf of Mexico, said, “Engaging with Shell from the outset has been key to building trust and driving efficiencies. This award in T&T reflects our growing presence in the region, as well as our ongoing commitment to safe, predictable project delivery while supporting local talent and resources.”

The contract is in a range between US$50 million and US$150 million. Last week Shell T&T Ltd announced the FID on Aphrodite, stating the project “will allow Shell to incrementally expand its integrated gas business by building on existing developments in the ECMA, one of the country’s most prolific gas-producing areas.”

Shell’s largest gas-producing fields in T&T, Dolphin, Starfish, Bounty and Endeavour lie in the ECMA. Shell said the gas field will serve as a backfill for the Atlantic LNG facility. Increased production from the field will help to maximize the potential utilisation of Shell’s existing assets.

Adam Lowmass, country chair of Shell T&T said, “By increasing the gas supply to Atlantic LNG, the project will not only serve to fortify the domestic gas market, it will also boost the local petrochemical and power-generation industries.”

 

 

 

 

Shell approves offshore gas development

LNG Prime Staff June 4, 2025

Trinidad and Tobago scores again with FID on Aphrodite gas.  A unit of UK-based LNG giant Shell has taken the final investment  decision for the development of the Aphrodite gas field to supply Atlantic LNG export plant.

 

 

 

Shell approves Aphrodite gas project offshore Trinidad

June 5, 2025

Shell Trinidad & Tobago issued the FID on the Aphrodite gas field development in Trinidad’s East Coast Marine Area. The province contains some of the company’s largest gas-producing fields-  Bounty, Dolphin, Endeavor and Starfish.

Production from Aphrodite will help backfill the Atlantic LNG complex and maximize use of existing facilities.   Assuming the proposals obtain all relevant regulatory approvals, production from Aphrodite could begin in 2027, peaking at about 107 MMcf/d.

 

 

 

 

Second gas bonanza as Shell greenlights Aphrodite

June 3, 2025

Shell Trinidad and Tobago Ltd, a subsidiary of Shell plc, has taken a final investment decision to begin production on the Aphrodite project, an undeveloped gas field in the East Coast Marine Area (ECMA).   Aphrodite will allow the company to incrementally expand its integrated gas business by building on existing developments in the prolific ECMA gas-province, holding Shell’s largest local gas-producing fields Dolphin, Starfish, Bounty and Endeavour.

Once Aphrodite is online, it will serve as a back fill for Atlantic LNG plant in Point Fortin. The increased production will help to maximize the potential utilisation of Shell’s existing assets.

Shell TT country chair and senior vice-president Adam Lowmass said, “This investment is testimony to our commitment to help secure the energy future of TT on several fronts.”

By increasing the gas supply to ALNG, Aphrodite will fortify the domestic gas market and boost the local petrochemical and power-generation industries. Development of the Aphrodite field remains subject to receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals. Once approved, Aphrodite is expected to start production in 2027 with an estimated peak production of approximately 18,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) (107 MMscf/d).

The field was discovered in 2022. Shell said, “Once all applicable regulatory approvals are received, Shell will be the operator of Aphrodite with a 100 per cent working interest under the Block 5a Production Sharing Contract & Block E Production Sharing Contract.”

The project will involve a new single subsea tieback to existing infrastructure in the Barracuda subsea network. Gas will be routed via Shell’s Dolphin A platform to domestic and foreign markets. Gas from Aphrodite will service the domestic market via the National Gas Company (NGC).

The export LNG market will be serviced through the Shell-operated onshore Beachfield gas processing facility. Aphrodite will help it to deliver on its ambition to solidify its leading position in LNG by growing sales by 4-5 per cent per year through to 2030.

Information in its LNG Outlook 2025 provides a basis for further optimism on Aphrodite’s promise with Asian economic growth expected to drive a 60 per cent rise in LNG demand to 2040. Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal congratulated Shell on this development.

“We are pleased that Shell has progressed the Aphrodite project to FID.  We are also pleased with the stated timeline of the project which aims to  realise “first gas” by 2027 at a rate of approximately 107 million cubic feet per day. This new natural gas development project is important as it helps counter declining production from maturing reservoirs in the Shell -operated ECMA. The ministry, in its role as regulator, will work with Shell to ensure the safe and timely completion of this project.”

His predecessor Stuart Young said, “Looking forward to production. This is another project that we negotiated to ensure stable gas supply. Took some work but we got it done.”

Young was energy minister from April 19, 2021- April 30, 2025.

Shell’s announcement on Aphrodite comes after bpTT’s announcement on the first gas production from its Mento project on May 29. bpTT said production from Mento will make a significant contribution towards the 250,000 boe/d combined peak net production expected from ten major projects. Earlier this year, bpTT announced these projects as part of its strategy to grow the upstream.   They are expected to start up worldwide between 2025 and 2027.

Company president David Campbell, said “This represents our second start up this year and it is tangible proof of the benefits of partnering with others to bring much needed gas into production. The bpTT/EOG partnership is progressing well as we continue to work on our next joint venture project Coconut.”

Both companies are currently working on the Coconut gas development under a similar joint venture arrangement with start-up is expected in 2027.

Moonilal and Young also congratulated bpTT on the Mento project.

 

 

 

Shell approves offshore gas development

Aphrodite expected to produce gas by 2027

Robert Stewart North America Energy Correspondent   Baton Rouge 3 June 2025

UK supermajor Shell has reached a final investment decision on its Aphrodite gas field offshore Trinidad & Tobago. Development of Aphrodite is subject to regulatory approvals.

Once approved, it is expected to start production in 2027 at peak rates of about 18,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day, or 107 million cubic feet per day of gas. The undeveloped gas field will build on existing infrastructure in the petroliferous East Coast Marine Area (ECMA), holding Shell’s largest local gas-producing fields – Dolphin, Dolphin Deep, Starfish, Bounty and Endeavour.

The Aphrodite gas network will include a single subsea tieback to existing infrastructure in the Shell-operated Barracuda network. Gas will be rerouted to Dolphin A platform to send to domestic markets via the National Gas Company of Trinidad & Tobago and foreign markets via liquefied natural gas shipped from Atlantic LNG. Aphrodite will also serve as a gas backfill for Atlantic LNG facility.

With 100% interest, Shell will be operator of Aphrodite, discovered in 2022. Shell senior vice president, Adam Lowmass said,

“By increasing the gas supply to Atlantic LNG, the project will not only serve to fortify the domestic gas market, it will also boost the local petrochemical and power-generation industries.”

 

 

 

Shell FID on Aphrodite gas project offshore Trinidad

June. 03, 2025
Carl Surran, SA News Editor

Shell said it made a positive final investment decision on its Aphrodite gas project offshore Trinidad and Tobago, expecting to produce first gas in 2027. Shell is a 45% shareholder in Trinidad’s Atlantic LNG plant which has a capacity to produce 12M metric tons/year of liquefied natural gas. Plagued by a shortfall of natural gas, Shell is unable to gain its full share of over 5.5M tons/year of LNG from the plant.

Once online, this gas field will serve as a backfill for the Atlantic LNG facility. The USA previously revoked a license allowing Shell and Trinidad to develop the Dragon gas project in Venezuela, intended to supply gas to Atlantic LNG.   Aphrodite will allow Shell to incrementally expand its integrated gas business by building on existing developments in the East coast marine area, one of Trinidad’s most prolific gas provinces.

Shell produces slightly more than 600M cf/day of natural gas in Trinidad, and increased production from Aphrodite will help it maximize the utilization of its existing assets.

 

 

 

Shell takes Final Investment Decision for Aphrodite

3 June 2025

Shell Trinidad and Tobago, a subsidiary of Shell, has taken a Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Aphrodite project, an undeveloped gas field in the East Coast Marine Area (ECMA) in Trinidad and Tobago.

Aphrodite will allow Shell to incrementally expand its Integrated Gas business by building on existing developments in the ECMA, one of the country’s most prolific gas-producing areas. The ECMA is currently home to Shell’s largest gas-producing fields in the country including Dolphin, Starfish, Bounty and Endeavour.

Once online, this gas field will serve as a backfill for the country’s Atlantic LNG facility. The increased production will help to maximize the potential utilization of Shell’s existing assets.

‘This investment is testament to our commitment to help secure the energy future of Trinidad and Tobago on several fronts’ said Adam Lowmass, Senior Vice President and Country Chair of Shell Trinidad and Tobago. ‘By increasing the gas supply to Atlantic LNG, the project will not only serve to fortify the domestic gas market, it will also boost the local petrochemical and power-generation industries.‘ he added.

Development of the Aphrodite field remains subject to receipt of all applicable regulatory approvals, and once approved, is expected to start production in 2027 with an estimated peak production of approximately 18,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) (107 MMscf/d).

Source: The Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago

 

 

 

bpTT & EOG report first gas from Mento

May 29, 2025

bp Trinidad and Tobago (bpTT) reported the offshore Mento development has delivered first gas through connection of the initial discovery well and the drilling campaign for the remaining seven gross wells on the platform will now begin.

Mento is a 50:50 joint venture between EOG Resources Trinidad Ltd. (operator) and bpTT. The development features a 12-slot, attended facility located in acreage jointly licensed by bpTT and EOG, offshore Trinidad’s southeast coast. Mento is one of bp’s 10 major projects scheduled to start up worldwide between 2025 and 2027. Production from Mento will make “ a significant contribution” toward the 250,000 boe/d combined peak net production expected from these 10 projects.

The Mento platform was built at the TOFCO fabrication yard in La Brea, Trinidad. Partners will continue to work on their next joint venture project, the Coconut gas development, scheduled for 2027 startup. Coconut is located off the southeast coast of Trinidad in the Columbus Basin.

Mento is bpTT’s second startup this year. The company delivered first gas from its Cypre development, 78 km offshore southeast Trinidad in the East Mayaro Block in 80 m water depth, in early April. bpTT, owned by bp (70% ) and Repsol (30%), operates 12 offshore platforms, three subsea installations and two onshore processing facilities.

 

 

 

 

Proman

2025, 06/12

Senior government officials met with representatives from Proman to discuss developments in Trinidad and Tobago’s energy sector on Wednesday.

Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Roodal Moonilal and Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries Ernesto Kesar held talks with Proman Managing Director Anand Ragbir, Deputy Managing Director Giselle Thompson, and Director of Marketing and Logistics Hana Sukhu-Maharaj.

Moonilal and Kesar welcomed the Proman executives and extended congratulations to Ragbir and Thompson on their recent appointments. They reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the energy sector, describing it as central to the national economy. The ministers also encouraged Proman to expand its participation in current and future energy initiatives and to consider further investments.

Proman outlined the scope of its operations, highlighting ownership and management of 14 petrochemical plants in the country. The company reiterated its long-term investment in Trinidad and Tobago and its focus on clean energy technology to support environmental sustainability.

Executives from Proman also emphasised opportunities in methanol production. They noted that Trinidad and Tobago ranks as the world’s second-largest exporter and remains a significant global supplier. The company presented updates on its export activities related to ammonia, urea ammonium nitrate, and melamine, pointing to the country’s role in the global petrochemical supply chain.

The government officials expressed appreciation for Proman’s continued engagement and reaffirmed their willingness to collaborate on projects that would strengthen the energy sector. Both sides indicated interest in maintaining a productive relationship to support national economic goals.

The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries issued the release following the meeting, stating that such engagements support long-term sector development and foreign investment. The government reiterated its intention to work closely with private energy partners like Proman to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the energy industry in Trinidad and Tobago.