Melbana Energy Limited (Melbana or Company) provides this operational update
regarding Block 9 Production Sharing Contract (PSC) onshore Cuba, in which it holds a 30%
interest via a wholly owned subsidiary that is also the operator. The remaining 70% of the
PSC is held by the National Oil Company of Angola, Sonangol Pesquisa e Produ锟斤拷o SA
(Sonangol).
Drilling of Amistad-111
All equipment and contractors remain available to commence the drilling of the next well. A
rescheduled spud date is subject to the Company锟絪 joint operation partner providing its share
of the funds required for this activity. Production from Amistad-1 (which stopped ahead of the
planned commencement of Amistad-11 last year), was briefly resumed recently to alleviate
wellhead pressure build up. The well flowed unassisted to surface in an encouraging sign that
the system is naturally recharging, as expected.
Data Acquisition Program
The seismic data obtained from the geohazard and check shot surveys has provided high
resolution imaging down to about 2,000 metres. Processing is revealing a lot of significant
information in the shallow section, particularly, which is being used to validate and enhance
the subsurface model developed from the previous vintages of conventional 2D seismic
acquired in the area (see Figure 1).
The planned 2026 work program includes the acquisition of more seismic data, but this time
in a 3D configuration. It is expected that this work can be done relatively quickly and cheaply
given the wireless nodes are easily placed by readily available equipment (see Figure 2). If a
3D seismic data set can be acquired and processed, as planned, it would provide valuable
additional information for the positioning of future wells and further enhancement of the
subsurface model.
The data obtained from the LIDAR2 acquisition undertaken last year is also of good quality and
will further assist future planning and interpretation works (see Figure 3).
Analysis of Amistad-2 Results
Laboratory and other analysis work continues on the oil (see Figure 4) and other samples and
data obtained whilst drilling Amistad-2 to better understand why the oil present in the formation
(as identified by electric logs) did not flow as expected.
Notice of Default
The Notice of Default issued to Sonangol last month3 has been reissued this week to ensure
full compliance with the procedural requirements of the Joint Operating Agreement.
Accordingly, the sixty-day period permitted under the Joint Operating Agreement to cure the
default has therefore reset and now runs to early April 2026.