Melbana Energy stated that “testing of the Amistad 2 well revealed a high-quality, but aquifer, reservoir.”
MIAMI, United States. – The Australian company Melbana Energy Limited reported which temporarily closed the Alameda-2 well, which is located in Block 9 of Cuba (northern coast of the Island, about 140 km east of Havana), on November 2, 2025 to drill a “twin” well (Amistad-11) “immediately adjacent.”
The reportpresented at the end of December 2025, specifies that “the tests of the Amistad 2 well revealed a high-quality, but aquifer, reservoir.”
In testing, initial flow confirmed a “highly permeable” reservoir, but the operational result did not include oil recovery. Melbana stated that the pumping reached a final average rate of “1,220 barrels per day of water” with minimal pressure drop, and that the accumulated volume of water produced was around 1,840 barrels.
This served the company to justify that the new well seeks to separate from the existing one and be drilled at a structurally higher point compared to Alameda-2, with a start at a shallower depth to achieve the desired separation at the optimal depth of the reservoir, and continue up to a total planned depth of 1,000 meters.
The same document linked the decision to prioritize Amistad-11 with the results of the Amistad-2 well, drilled during the period. Melbana reported that Amistad-2 began on September 18, 2025 and that, although the original plan contemplated reaching 1,125 meters measured, the company decided to deepen it to 2,000 meters when finding that the upper part of the target structure was eroded and replaced by sediments.
The company outlined a logging program and a preliminary petrophysical analysis that interpreted a net reservoir stretch, and noted that the well was tested on Oct. 31, 2025.
Based on that chart, the company reported that it decided to drill Amistad-11 “instead of Amistad-3” as part of the 2025 drilling program.
However, the report also stated that the execution of Amistad-11 was hindered by financial issues within the association. Melbana said it obtained partner approval and “all permits” to drill Amistad-11, and that mobilization of equipment to the location was completed on Nov. 22, 2025, but actual start-up was put on hold due to outstanding payments from Sonangol.
According to the document, Sonangol communicated that it would not be able to remit more funds in calendar year 2025 and asked to defer drilling until 2026. In response, Melbana said it ordered the demobilization of personnel.
On the other hand, the document indicates that during the last quarter of 2025, 3,101 barrels of crude oil were produced and delivered to storage, which brought the crude oil inventory to 36,687 barrels at the end of the period.
