Melbana Energy provides an update on its drilling operations at its Alameda-1 exploration well in its Block 9 contract area onshore Cuba.

After running the 9-5/8” casing and cementing it in place at the base of the upper sheet limestones, the 8-1/2” hole section was commenced and has drilled through a thick interval of Vega Alta Formation, dominated by claystone, serpentinite and limestone to a current depth of 2,971 mMD. This unit is interpreted to be the main top seal for potential hydrocarbons trapped in the limestone reservoir section below it. It is correlated to a similar unit in the adjacent Marti-5 well, below which significant oil shows and hydrocarbon recoveries were reported. The unit is prognosed to be the top seal for each of the primary targets in Alameda-1 where it is expected to be repeated by thrust faults.

A managed pressure system has been tested and installed at the wellsite to enable close management of downhole pressures while drilling the main targets and will facilitate the use of lighter mudweights through the prospective reservoir sections.

Melbana Energy’s Executive Chairman, Andrew Purcell, commented: 
“We are currently drilling ahead towards the prognosed N Sheet reservoir (~3000 mMD) and are encouraged by the oil shows, in the form of fluorescence, that we are encountering. Their significance will be clarified once more of the (possibly N reservoir) limestones are drilled and evaluated to determine if moveable oil is present”.