Mobilisation for Melbana Energy Limited’s Alameda-2 appraisal well drill program has commenced at the company’s Block 9 PSC area, onshore Cuba.

The drilling rig and spread was released from its previous operation last Sunday and is in the process of being stacked up and delivered to Melbana’s Alameda site, as is the casing and other inventory.

The onsite camp facilities should be operational within the next week. Construction of the cellar has been completed in preparation for the installation of the conductor pipe.

Work carried out by Melbana’s on-ground management team over the previous two months has facilitated the efficient transportation of equipment, and the company has procured the full cohort of equipment, inventory and materials required to commence drilling in a timely fashion now that rig mobilisation has commenced.

Alameda-2 has a planned total depth of 1,960mMD (1,840mTVD). The objective of the appraisal program is to allow oil to flow from the three productive units encountered previously in the shallowest of the three oil bearing reservoirs (designated Amistad).

The volumes of the Amistad structure have been independently estimated as 1.9 billion barrels of Oil in Place and 88 million barrels of Prospective Resource (unrisked gross best estimate).

Melbana Energy’s Executive Chairman Andrew Purcell said the formal commencement of mobilisation is a great development.

“We are excited to get started. Operations on the ground are progressing well and the Melbana team is working in lockstep with the various contractors to establish sound foundations for the appraisal well program.

“Our CFO and I will be on-site in Cuba for the month of June to oversee the commencement of drilling, leading up to the expected recovery of first oil samples.

“Now that activities are accelerating on site, the company looks forward to providing a steady flow of updates into spud and throughout the first phase of this year’s appraisal drilling program.”