So far taking into account no issues at all the last two items take add 7 days to the 22nd to the 29th so it’s safe to assume there has been challenges as we are now 6 days past 29th.
No need to panic.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (18 April 2024)
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 for
Alameda-3.
Total Depth for the 8.5” hole section through the Alameda (N-Sheet) reservoir has been
reached at 3645 metres MD.
The Alameda-3 appraisal well is a proximate to and with a similar trajectory to the Company’s
Alameda-1 exploration well that previously discovered moveable hydrocarbons in this reservoir
in 2022. Lessons learned from drilling the Alameda-1 well informed the enhancements that
were made to the Alameda-3 well design to safely improve drilling performance whilst also
preserving reservoir conditions so that data on its characteristics can be obtained.
1 See ASX announcement 1 August 2022
Page 2 of 3
The primary goal of Alameda-3 is to test the oil quality and flow rates of both the Alameda (N-
sheet) reservoir and the deeper Marti (I-sheet) reservoir that Alameda-1 was unable to properly
determine due to the stronger than expected hydrocarbon influxes into the wellbore that
occurred during the drilling of that well. The elevated pressures that were encountered have
been better managed this time due to prior experience of the subsurface conditions and careful
management of mud weight, resulting in only one significant pressure kick being taken this
time in drilling the current hole section. Elevated gas readings were once again observed
across the reservoir, indicating the presence of hydrocarbons.
Drilling of this section was slower than forecast, primarily due to technical challenges managing
the heavily fractured rock in the 8-1/2” hole section which at one point resulted in the bottom
hole assembly becoming stuck when the hole packed off. Drilling continued without further
incident within a sidetracked well bore after an increase in mud weight (see Figure 1).
Two reservoir cores were successfully obtained at 3210 metres MD and 3310 metres MD (see
Figure 2). The cores will be analysed in conjunction with well logs and test results to better
define petrophysical properties, reservoir characteristics, fracture density and nature,
intergranular porosity, permeability, deliverability and reservoir fluid composition. Forward program
The next stage in Alameda-3 is to acquire open hole wireline logs in the 8-1/2” section. The
hole will then be conditioned for the running and cementing of the 7” liner (see Figure 3),
including external casing packers to isolate up to three zones within the Alameda reservoir for
later Drill Stem Tests (DST). Log results from the upcoming acquisition program will help
determine the optimum positioning of the packers to maximise any oil recovery.
Once cased, the program is to drill ahead in 6” hole to take cores in the Marti reservoir at
approximately ~3655 metres MD and ~3743 metres MD. Total depth for the Marti reservoir
MAY Price at posting:
5.3¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
