Map showing location of the Alameda-1 well, Block 9, northern onshore Cuba. Image credit: NVentures.A joint venture between Melbana Energy of Australia (operator) and Sonangol, the state oil company of Angola, have met with early success on Block 9 onshore northern Cuba, with an oil discovery at Alameda-1. The well was drilled between September 2021 and March 2022, reaching a TD of 3,916m. Good oil shows were encountered over 300m, and the well was TD’d early after one or more kicks, resulting in well control and ‘safe containment’ of the well. Testing has been delayed for now, while the group drill their second well in the campaign, Zapato-1. Block 9 is very large, over 2,300 sq km, with good follow-on potential albeit in a high-pressure thrusted basin. Alameda itself targeted 161 MMbo mean unrisked reserves, pre-drill, over three thrusted fault blocks. Logging results suggest net pay within the Marti, Amistad and Alameda structures. Nearby Zapato-1 will target 114 MMbo mean unrisked reserves. Melbana was awarded the block in 2015, with the Santa Cruz Block, and Sonangol entered in 2020. Ascent Resources will be following the news here, having options on onshore blocks nearby.
Author: Ian Blakeley, NVentures UK
