Touchstone Exploration Inc. Announces Successful Bid in the 2013 Trinidad Onshore Bid Round

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Feb 3, 2014) - Touchstone Exploration Inc. ("Touchstone" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:TAB) is pleased to announce that the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs ("MEEA") has informed Touchstone that its application, made through the Company's wholly owned Trinidad subsidiary Primera Oil and Gas Limited, in the 2013 Trinidad and Tobago Onshore Bid Round was successful.

The Company will now, subject to the terms of the Model Licence and the Company's bid proposal, hold discussions with the MEEA in order to finalize the Exploration and Production License for the Ortoire Block. These discussions are expected to conclude within the next month.

In October of 2013 Primera Oil and Gas Limited bid for an Exploration and Production Licence on the Ortoire Block, one of three available blocks in the 2013 Onshore Bid Round. Located in the South East portion of Trinidad and Tobago, the Ortoire Block includes approximately 44,500 contiguous acres and is adjacent to production from a variety of existing oil pools. The addition of the Ortoire Exploration Block will bring Touchstone's total land holdings in Trinidad and Tobago from approximately 23,700 working interest acres to 68,000 net acres, 63,000 of which are located onshore.

James Shipka, Vice President, Geosciences said "The Ortoire Exploration Block is an incredible opportunity for Touchstone as it is an extension of the well-known Southern Basin and presents exploration and development opportunities in a number of different horizons. As with the Company's existing budget, the commitments associated with bid are expected to be funded through future cash flows."

Jim Krissa, the Company's Country Manager in Trinidad and Tobago said "The high impact potential of the Ortoire Block gives the Company access to a significant amount of exploration acreage which will immediately be integrated into the Company's long-term operational plans in Trinidad and Tobago. With this new land Touchstone continues to move forward as a leader in onshore development and exploration in Trinidad."

Formal signing of the License is expected to take place in Port of Spain, Trinidad following the finalization of the License in conjunction with the MEEA.

Touchstone Exploration Inc. is engaged in the business of acquiring interests in petroleum and natural gas rights, and the exploration, development, production and sale of petroleum and natural gas internationally. The Company is currently active in onshore properties located in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The Company's common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "TAB". Please see the latest corporate presentation on the Company's website at www.touchstoneexploration.com.

READER ADVISORY - Forward Looking Statements

The information herein contains forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and other similar expressions. Statements relating to "reserves" and "resources" are deemed to be forward looking statements, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the reserves and resources described exist in the quantities predicted or estimated, and can be profitably produced in the future. Such statements represent the Company's internal projections, estimates or beliefs concerning future growth, results of operations based on information currently available to the Company based on assumptions that are subject to change and are beyond the Company's control, such as: production rates and production decline rates, the magnitude of and ability to recover oil and gas reserves, plans for and results of drilling activity, well abandonment costs and salvage value, the ability to secure necessary personnel, equipment and services, environmental matters, future commodity prices, changes to prevailing regulatory, royalty, tax and environmental laws and regulations, the impact of competition, future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof), future financing sources, business prospects and opportunities, among other things. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future and accordingly, actual results may differ materially from those predicted. Although the Company's management believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievement since such expectations and assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies.

The Company is exposed to numerous operational, technical, financial and regulatory risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond its control and may significantly affect anticipated future results. Operations may be unsuccessful or delayed as a result of competition for services, supplies and equipment, mechanical and technical difficulties, ability to attract and retain qualified employees on a cost-effective basis, commodity and marketing risk and seasonality. The Company is subject to significant drilling risks and uncertainties including the ability to find oil reserves on an economic basis and the potential for technical problems that could lead to well blowouts and environmental damage. The Company is exposed to risks relating to the inability to obtain timely regulatory approvals, surface access, and access to third party gathering and processing facilities, transportation and other third party related operation risks. The Company is exposed to risks related to recent acquisitions including unforeseen difficulties in integrating acquired companies, properties, personnel and infrastructure into the Company's operations; the outcome of litigation brought against the Company or acquired companies or other disputes involving the Company or any acquired companies; or the failure generally to realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions. The Company is subject to industry conditions including changes in laws and regulations including the adoption of new environmental laws and regulations and changes in how they are interpreted and enforced. There are uncertainties in estimating the Company's reserve base due to the complexities in estimated future production, costs and timing of expenses and future capital. The financial risks the Company is exposed to include, but are not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions in Canada and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, changes in income tax laws or changes in tax laws, royalties and incentive programs relating to the oil and gas industry, fluctuations in natural gas and crude oil prices, interest rates, the U.S./Canadian dollar exchange rate and the U.S/Trinidad and Tobago dollar exchange rate. The Company is subject to regulatory legislation, the compliance with which may require significant expenditures and non-compliance with which may result in fines, penalties or production restrictions or the termination of licence, lease operating or farm-in rights related to the Company's oil and gas interests in Trinidad and Tobago.

Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Readers are also cautioned that the foregoing list of factors and assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company's operations and financial results are included elsewhere herein and in reports, documents and disclosures on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed on SEDAR.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.