Melbana Energy Limited provided this update on its drilling operations in the Block 9 contract area, onshore Cuba. The side-track hole is currently at 2,150 metres MD and still in the overburden. The pre-drill prognosis was for the target formation to possibly be intersected at approximately 2,650 metres MD, but reinterpretation of the subsurface based on information gained from drilling the well suggests it may be that it could be encountered some 300 metres higher.

Some drilling time was lost in the past week whilst debris was recovered from the well bore following the failure of a drilling bit, but this has now been completed successfully and the new bit is drilling ahead at a satisfactory rate.