Each one in plain English, with the numbers worked through for a shareholder.
22 Sept 2025drilling result▲ GoodMajor
Wombat-5 drilled 522 m in 72 hours to 2,916 m MD and entered the Wombat-3 sand package near 2,825 m on prognosis. Gas shows reached 3,374 units (67.49%). Target depth is about 3,050 m. Mud-gas readings, not a flow test.
Day 49: well path corrected back to 87.2° and 24 m drilled to 2,297 m MD. The motor assembly was pulled to be replaced with the rotary steerable tool. Gas shows up to 458 units.
Day 48: a downhole motor assembly found no debris and drilled 73 m to 2,273 m MD (721 m lateral). Gas shows up to 1,565 units (31% gas). 777 m remains to the 3,050 m target.
Re-lodgement of the 15 September update: 2,200 m, slow drilling from suspected reamer shoe debris, string being pulled. Same content, no new information.
Day 46: horizontal hole reached 2,200 m MD, 678 m lateral, but only 78 m in 72 hours. Slow drilling and torque, suspected dislodged reamer shoe debris, mean the string is being pulled for inspection. Gas shows up to 590 units.
Capital raising presentation for the $5.8m placement at $1.15, a 13.4% discount to the 5-day VWAP and 34.3% below the last price of $1.75. Repeats Wombat-5 progress to 2,122 m and the gas shows already announced.
Horizontal drilling advanced 320 m in 24 hours to 1,899 m MD, passing the Wombat-2 location with gas shows up to 2,910 units (581,000 ppm) in good sands. Strong indication of gas-saturated reservoir, though a mud-gas reading and not a flow test.
Lakes raised $5.8m in a two-tranche placement at $1.15 a share (about 5.04m shares). Tranche one is 4,608,696 shares. A director-linked entity (Nick Mather) takes $500,000, subject to AGM approval. Funds go to the Wombat project and working capital.
Horizontal 6-1/8 inch section began 10 September; 60 m drilled by 9:30 am at about 20 m/hour. Gas readings reached 81 units (16,200 ppm). The chairman points to 250 Bcf at Wombat, which is a 2010 consultant estimate, not new.
The 7 inch casing is set and cemented at 1,549 m, about 35 m into the Strzelecki, securing the well in the reservoir. Gas shows rose to 35 units (7,000 ppm). Target total depth remains 3,050 m.
Wombat-5 entered the Strzelecki Formation at 1,410 m, about 4 m higher than prognosis, with first gas shows up to 12 units (2,400 ppm). Lakes says these are consistent with Wombat-2 and -3. Early indication only, not a flow test.
Day 33: assembly running back to the bottom at 1,394 m after fluid volume was restored. Strzelecki top expected in about 20 m and the 7 inch casing point in about 150 m.
Re-lodgement of the 2 September update: assembly paused at the casing shoe at 1,394 m while fluid volumes are restored. Same content, no new information.
Day 32: no depth progress, stuck at 1,394 m. New assembly paused at the casing shoe while surface fluid volumes are restored. Strzelecki top still expected within 20 m TVD; 7 inch casing point about 1,530 m.
Day 31: well at 1,394 m, 53° inclination, after changing the motor and bit for slow drilling. A human-error mechanical failure while pulling the string delayed repairs. The Strzelecki top is expected within about 20 m.
Day 26: only 14 m drilled to 1,256 m. Clay packed around the bit and stabiliser slowed drilling, so the assembly was pulled and a new one is being run in. A minor setback.
Day 25: ST-2 drilled 142 m to 1,242 m, building inclination to 22°. A wiper trip showed the hole in good condition. Plan is to build to 88° before casing and the horizontal section.
Drilling resumed 22 August as sidetrack ST-2 after Lakes and the contractor agreed added redundancy against mud circulation failures. Contractor accepted a fixed-price arrangement to finish the well. Now at 1,100 m, about 260 m above the Strzelecki target. Resolves the stoppage.
Day 18 of Wombat-5 sidetrack: still at 470 m with no progress. Lakes has the drilling contractor's report, is reviewing it with its experts and is in discussions with the contractor. Outcome to be advised.
Day 17: free drillstring recovered and cement plug set back to about 470 m. Mud circulation failed again on Saturday; a remedy is being stress-tested. Drilling resumes only if Lakes' review finds the rig fit for purpose. Well is still far above target.
Re-lodgement of the 14 August update: assembly stuck at about 1,088 m after loss of mud suction, with retrieval and another cement plug planned. Same content, no new information.
Day 13: mud pump suction was lost and the drilling assembly is stuck at about 1,088 m after jarring failed. The drillstring will be severed and retrieved, then another cement plug set to kick off around it. Insurance covers most of the lost string.
Re-lodgement of the 11 August update: sidetrack ST-1 drilling at 1,078 m after a cement plug and wrong-direction kick-off. Same content, no new information.
Day 10: failed directional tools kicked the well off in the wrong direction, so Lakes set a cement plug and sidetracked (ST-1) from 1,050 m. It is now drilling at 1,078 m on the intended path, with a setback on the original hole.
Day 6 of Wombat-5: the directional tool was pulled after a survey tool fault, and depth is shown as 1,036 m. The tool is being run back in to resume the kick-off. The first operational problem.