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- Melbana Energy (MAY) reaches a depth of 1.66 kilometres at the Zapato-1 exploration well within the Block 9 contract in Cuba
- The company says the expected ophiolitic formation has been encountered higher than prognosis
- Given the low rate of penetration, the underreamer was removed when the hole reached 1251 metres
- Presently, the 11-3/4 inch liner has been run to 1240 metres and, once set and cemented in place, MAY will drill out the shoe and continue drilling from 1666 metres
- Shares in Melbana Energy are down 2.56 per cent, trading at 7.6 cents as of 11:45 am AEST
Melbana Energy (MAY) has reached a depth of 1.66 kilometres at the Zapato-1 exploration well within the Block 9 contract in Cuba.
The company said the expected ophiolitic formation has been encountered higher than prognosis.
Given the low rate of penetration, the 12-1/4 inch by 14-inch underreamer was removed from the bottom hole assembly (BHA) when the 14-inch diameter hole reached 1251 metres.
Drilling then continued with stabilised 12-1/4 inch BHA to the current depth and wiper trips were made to clean and condition the hole prior to the running and setting of the 11-3/4 inch liner within the 14-inch hole section to secure this open hole.
At the present time, the 11-3/4 inch liner has been run to 1240 metres and, once set and cemented in place, the plan is to drill out the shoe and continue drilling in the ophiolitic formation from 1666 metres with a 10-5/8 inch BHA.
Executive Chairman Andrew Purcell called the progress steady, and he estimated the objective of the well could begin at about 2650 metres and have approximately 1000 metres of vertical relief.
“We expected there was going to be a section of hard formation to get through and once again the pre-drill assessment of our geoscience team has been right on the money,” he said.
“The drilling team is doing a great job and I’m looking forward to being back in Cuba with the team in a few weeks, by which time we will hopefully have this section behind us and getting closer to testing whether the target structure is the source of the high quality oil that was found in the Motembo oil field.”
Shares in Melbana Energy were down 2.56 per cent, trading at 7.6 cents as of 11:45 am AEST.
