Highlights
- Alameda-3 Appraisal Well
- Wireline logging successfully completed in Alameda Structure. Good quality
data obtained. Preliminary analysis encouraging.
- Technical difficulties resulting in a delay to drilling operations now resolved.
Drilling operations expected to resume by week’s end.
- Total depth of well projected to be reached about two weeks after drilling
operations resume. First flow tests to be conducted immediately thereafter.
- Amistad Field Development
- Workshops and field trips in Cuba with partner and regulator regarding
preparations for commencement of field development successfully undertaken
this month.
- Plan remains to initially develop Unit 1B of the Amistad Structure with first oil
sales by end 2024.
Melbana Energy’s Executive Chairman, Andrew Purcell, commented: “It’s been a busy month with a lot of my colleagues from Australasia joining me in Cuba to help run successful workshops and field visits for our partner and then again for the Cuban regulator. We appreciated our partner sending a large and senior delegation from Angola to better understand our field development plans and the status of their preparations. There’s still a lot
to be done to achieve our goal of selling our first barrel of oil in 2024, but this was a big and important step towards achieving that exciting goal.
Preliminary assessment of the logging results from the Alameda sheet show that we have acquired a suite of high quality data. I am encouraged by the early assessments of our geoscientists.
The technical issue that caused a delay to our drilling operations has now been resolved. The program is expected to be back on track by the end of this week. When I listen to our project management team develop, refine then rank possible solutions to drilling issues when they occur, in this case about three kilometres underground, I am acutely aware of and appreciative of their decades of experience.
It’s time to get to the planned bottom of this well so we can start the flow tests.”
Melbana Energy Limited (ASX: MAY) (Melbana or Company), a 30% interest holder in and Operator of Block 9 PSC onshore Cuba, is pleased to provide this operational update.
Alameda Sheet – well logs highlight fractured nature of interval
Logging of the 8.5” hole section of Alameda-3 within the Alameda sheet has been successfully completed, with a suite of good quality results being obtained across the entire 677 mMD interval. Natural fractures are present throughout the entire logged section with zones of welldeveloped porosity in association with the fractures also present. Preliminary analysis indicates that there are broadly two distinct sections developed in the Alameda sheet. The lower of these two sections is heavily fractured and corresponds with the elevated gas shows and oil over the shakers that were observed at this depth in the Alameda-1 exploration well. Melbana also commissioned a second company to acquire logs over the sheet to compare their results with that of the incumbent contractor.
Drilling operations stymied by stuck tool
After running in the 7" liner, the setting tool was run in on 3-1/2" tubing and 5" drill pipe to 2740mMD. While attempting to inflate an external casing packer the tool appears to have failed and became stuck.
Initial attempts to retrieve the tool were unsuccessful so fishing operations were commenced. Specialist fishing and milling tools and personnel successfully retrieved the fish. Subsequent casing integrity logs and pressure testing confirmed the integrity of the 7” liner.