Each one in plain English, with the numbers worked through for a shareholder.
21 Aug 2026capital raising announcement▼ BadMajor
Entitlement offer closed raising $1.9m of the $4.69m offered at $0.30, with underwriters covering a further $0.8m. About $2.0m of shortfall remains unplaced. Placement raised $3.3m, plus $0.7m needing shareholder approval on 23 September. Total so far falls short of the ~$8.7m target.
Prospectus and application forms for the 1-for-4.7 entitlement offer at $0.30 (free $0.36 option per share) were dispatched, with letters to ineligible holders. Offer closes 18 August 2026. Administrative step in the already-announced raising; no new terms.
Capital raising presentation repeats the raise, Wombat-5 testing status and board changes. It states production testing has concluded, with the next step being inhibited fluid and perforation of about 156 m. No new results.
29 July 2026capital raising announcement▼ BadMajor
Raising about $8.7m at $0.30 per share: a $4.0m placement plus a $4.7m 1-for-4.7 entitlement offer, partly underwritten to $2.7m, each with a free $0.36 option. Funds go to Wombat perforation and testing. Boyd White resigned; Hugh Robertson joined the board. Price is far below the $1.15 placement of 2025.
Prospectus for the 1-for-4.7 entitlement offer at $0.30 to raise up to about $4.69m, with a free attaching option per new share. Documents the already-announced raising; no new terms visible.
June quarter: Wombat-5 is suspended with a bridge plug at 1,100 m. Perforation, stimulation and flow testing now slip to September 2026 subject to approval, and Portland drilling to H1 2027. Mostly known events.
Lakes reports preliminary talks with Victorian Government departments on Wombat supplying gas. Its own conceptual study models roughly A$605m NPV10, 58% IRR, first gas Q1 2029, with about A$169m initial capital. No government commitment or funding exists.
2 July 2026director officer appointment● NeutralMajor
Chairman Roland Sleeman retired as director and chairman on 30 June 2026, after joining as CEO in 2016. The board is considering additional appointments.
Wombat-5 pressure build-up reached about 1,764 psi, with at least 237 m of gas-bearing sand behind casing. Drilling damage is restricting flow; propellant perforation of at least 156 m is targeted for late August 2026, subject to approval. Still no commercial flow rate.
Lakes settled one of two supplier disputes arising from Wombat-5 drilling for a cash payment, said to be under a third of the roughly $1.3m claimed (amount confidential). The second went to litigation after failed mediation; total in dispute was previously put under $3.5m.
March quarter: Wombat-5 moved into pressure build-up, with perforation planned next and gas seen from all three zones. Cash was $3.95m at 31 March 2026, down from $5.7m at December. Mostly known events.
Exploration team expanded to four, including a geophysicist and reservoir engineer. Plans: improve Wombat-5 flow, drill up to two Portland wells in late 2026 subject to approvals, and seek approval for a Gippsland seismic survey, including to outline Wombat oil.
Wombat-5 flow and clean-up suspended and contractors demobilised, as further work is needed to establish full gas flow. A longer pressure build-up now runs, then, subject to approval, perforation and possibly acid washing. Setback to the test that began in January.
Half-year to 31 December 2025 report: the period centred on drilling and completing Wombat-5 and moving Wombat into production testing, plus the return to ASX trading in July. Mostly repeats known events; financial figures are not visible in the extract.
Wombat-5 testing is still clearing drilling and completion fluids, with nitrogen used to lift them. Gas is flowing to the flare from three zones, but no flow rates yet. Deliverability assessment awaits fluid recovery; the test is taking longer than planned.
December quarter: Wombat-5 testing began in January 2026, Portland drilling is targeted for 2H 2026 subject to approvals, and McGowan was appointed. Cash was $5.7m at 31 December 2025, down from $9.57m. Mostly known events.
Michael McGowan, a 35-year industry engineer who founded Arran Energy, is appointed General Manager of Operations. He will assist with Wombat-5 and two proof-of-concept wells planned at the Portland Energy Project.
After nitrogen blow-downs, natural gas is flowing to the flare from all zones, including below the lowest sleeve, so the deepest sand beneath the stuck assembly contributes. Drilling fluid is still being cleared; no measured flow rates yet.
The production packer passed a 2,500 psi pressure test and Victorian Government approval to test was received. Crews mobilise 14 January; plan is a four-day extended flow test then up to three weeks of shut-in, running mid-January to February 2026.
Test equipment arrived and was rigged up, but the upper swellable packer had not swelled enough to seal. About 10 more days are needed, so the crew is demobilised. Re-test is around 5 December, with testing the following week: another delay.
Chair's AGM address: Wombat-5 is drilled and completed, with flow testing to come, and Portland proof-of-concept drilling is being prepared. Notes Richard Ash took over as CEO after last year's AGM. No new results.
Wombat-5 production testing is delayed because equipment and staff are tied up elsewhere. First equipment is due 19 November, all onsite by 23 November, versus the earlier 10 November target. Lakes is confident of the third sand's contribution despite the stuck assembly.
September quarter: Wombat-5 reached 3,052 m total depth and was completed for testing; cash was $9.57m at 30 September after the $5.8m raising. Production testing is planned for mid-November. Largely repeats known events.
Wombat-5 drilled about 1,500 m horizontally through three high-gas sand intervals; the middle one is a new discovery of gas shows. A stuck assembly and suspected fault at 2,450 m stopped the completion short, leaving 614 m barefoot. Flow testing starts 10 November.
Wellhead installed and pressure tested; drilling rig released at 1pm on day 61. Site is secured until the workover unit and gas flow test package arrive, scheduled for 10 November.
Appendix 4G and corporate governance statement for the year to 30 June 2025, lodged with the annual report. Administrative compliance filing with no new information on the business.
The 4-1/2 inch completion is set at 2,438 m and the well secured for testing. Rig is to be released, with the workover unit and gas flow test scheduled for 10 November. The chair says flow testing is next to show commerciality.
FY25 annual report. Review of operations repeats known facts: Wombat 329 Bcf and Trifon-Gangell 390 Bcf contingent (719 combined), Portland, Nangwarry and PNG interests. Text provided is truncated, so financial figures are not captured here.
Day 59: the 4-1/2 inch swellable packer completion is being run, at 2,185 m, to be set at 2,440 m. Rig then demobilises; workover unit and flow test package are scheduled for 10 November, after the packers set.