OVERVIEW

The Company's primary objective is to maximise shareholder value from its principal asset in the Cambay Basin, located onshore Gujarat State in India, whilst also continuing to review other opportunities to create value and diversify risk by adding new assets to the Company's project portfolio which have to date focussed on the Cooper-Eromanga Basins in Australia (now sold to Armour Energy Limited), Indonesia and the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS).

To that extent, Oilex continues to evaluate and implement a range of technical programme options to progress its main objective of accessing the significant gas resource potential present in siltstones in the EP-IV reservoir at the Company's Cambay PSC. North American unconventional drilling, completion, and stimulation technologies have been applied by the Cambay JV over the last six years with positive but commercially modest results and work is underway to optimise results for future work programmes. The current work programmes are focused on:

·        Finalising a binding sale and purchase agreement with GSPC to purchase its 55% PI in Cambay, and to potentially further develop the asset with a new partner, or on a sole basis;

·    Preparing detailed work programmes, including new wells for implementation under the approved Field Development Plan (FDP);

·        Arranging the necessary funding to implement the planned work programme; and

·        Evaluating the Company's new ventures in the UKCS and Asia.

HEALTH, SAFETY, SECURITY AND ENVIRONMENT

No lost time incidents were recorded during the quarter.  There were no environmental issues recorded.

CAMBAY FIELD, GUJARAT, INDIA

(Oilex: Operator and 45% interest)

Oilex holds a 45% PI in the Cambay Field, with GSPC holding the remaining 55% PI, pending its purchase by Oilex. The Company's plans at Cambay are well advanced and include the drilling of up to two vertical wells, subject to, inter alia, securing the necessary funding.  

The priority will be to implement the drilling and stimulation recommendations from the Baker Hughes-GE study in the EP-IV zone where a gas accumulation is confirmed by historical flow tests and up until recently, low-rate cyclic production from two wells from the same reservoir section. Any early production will utilise the existing processing and storage facilities, which will be upgraded as required to provide a low-cost path to commercialisation. Assuming success, a more extensive drilling programme will follow, with the aim of aggregating sufficient production volumes to connect to the high-pressure pipelines which would offer greater offtake stability and improved gas prices. 

The re-commencement of field operations is, amongst other matters, dependent on finalisation of the binding sale and purchase agreement with GSPC and necessary financing. Furthermore, upon the removal of the applicable Covid-19 restrictions in India, the Company will review the planned work programme and update the market at that time.

GSPC Divestment Process for Cambay PSC

Subsequent to the end of the Quarter, the Company announced that GSPC had provided notification that GSPC and the State Government of Gujarat had approved the sale of its 55% PI in the Cambay PSC to Oilex for the purchase price of US$2.2 million ('Purchase Price') (the 'Transaction').  Following completion of the Transaction, Oilex will hold a 100% PI in the Cambay PSC. 

Work to finalise a binding sales and purchase agreement is underway and funding arrangements for the Purchase Price have been undertaken as recently announced by the Company.  The completion and transfer of GSPC's PI to Oilex is subject to the approval of the Government of India (GoI).  The GoI has been kept appropriately informed at all stages of discussions with the aim of securing approvals for the PI transfer in a favourable time frame.

Oilex will benefit through receipt of GSPC's share of the historic cost recovery pool, the total (100%) being approximately US$125 million.  Oilex also expects to assume GSPC's US$2.8 million share of the historic abandonment liabilities. 

Environmental Clearance

The Company is presently in the final stages of obtaining a new environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Cabinet Committee to supersede the previous clearances already obtained under the previous regulatory requirements.  The clearances are necessary to recommence production at Cambay and in support of the planned drilling programme at Cambay.  Presently, an Environmental Impact Assessment has been prepared by the Company's independent consultants and is pending submission to the applicable authorities and following public hearings.  The public hearings are delayed due to the continued effect of Covid-19.

Following receipt of the necessary environmental clearances, production from well C-73 and C-77H are on standby for re-commencement.

Joint Venture Management

During the quarter, Oilex received a payment of US$75,950 towards outstanding cash calls from its Joint Venture partner.

BHANDUT FIELD, GUJARAT, INDIA

(Oilex: Operator and 40% interest)

Oilex holds a 40% PI in the Bhandut PSC (Bhandut), with GSPC holding the remaining PI. On 28 January 2020, Oilex announced that it had accepted an offer from Kiri and Company Logistics Private Limited (Kiri) to acquire the Company's PI in Bhandut.  Pursuant to the agreement entered with Kiri, the Company will receive US$0.29 million in cash proceeds for the sale of its PI and transfer of operatorship rights to Kiri.  Furthermore, Kiri has expressed an interest in engaging the services of Oilex's office to review field production, stabilize operations, and initiate field re-development of Bhandut in accordance with the FDP.  Bhandut is presently shut-in and has been fully provided for in the Oilex financial statements.

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company announced that all the necessary approvals from the GoI for the sale of its PI in the Bhandut had now been completed. 

Cooper-Eromanga Basins

Divestment of Cooper Eromanga Basin Assets

Oilex holds approximately 14 million shares in Armour Energy (AJQ) received as part of the sale proceeds for Oilex's Cooper Basin asset package.  

United Kingdom Continental Shelf

East Irish Sea Licence P2446 (UK jurisdiction) (Oilex: Operator and 40% interest)

Blocks 113/22a (Doyle) and 113/27e (Doyle and Peel) have been merged into a single licence being P2446.  Block 113/22a was awarded in the UK Offshore 31st licensing round whereas block 113/27e was awarded in the 30th round.

P2446 provides an attractive entry into a proven gas fairway in the centre of the East Irish Sea Basin.  The licence is in shallow water near existing infrastructure reducing the complexity, risk and cost of development. The EIS is a prolific basin which has produced around 8 TCF of gas to date with considerable existing gas production, gathering, processing and transportation infrastructure.  The depth to the target reservoirs is less than 2,000 metres thus providing modest drilling costs.

Project Overview

The license lies on the west dipping graben edge of the Tynwald Fault Zone on the structural trend with the Rhyl and North Morecambe producing gas fields.  Historical production from the primary Triassic Ormskirk reservoirs on this trend show excellent deliverability characteristics with a very effective seal in the overlying evaporites and mudstones of the Mercia Mudstone group which attains a thickness in excess of 1,000m across the basin. Gas charge comes from the Carboniferous Coal Measures which underlie much of the basin. A secondary reservoir-seal pair is provided by the Permian Collyhurst sandstone and overlying evaporites.

Two prospects named Doyle and Peel are tilted fault blocks closed on the up dip east side by the north-south trending boundary fault of the Tynwald Fault Zone, which juxtaposes the reservoir against the Mercia Mudstone salts and shales forming a very effective cross fault seal. There is a clearly defined east-west fault bounding the southern extent enhanced by igneous dykes providing the seal mechanism.  The prospects both display seismic amplitude responses with similarities to the surrounding fields.

Three components of a commitment work program have been completed being a rock physics study, reprocessing of 3D seismic data, and obtaining 2,500 kms Aeromagnetic data.  Technical studies are underway ahead of a drill or drop decision required before September 2021. 

JPDA 06-103, TIMOR SEA

(Oilex: PSC Terminated 15 July 2015 - Operator and 10% interest)

In October 2018, the Company announced the Autoridade Nacional Do Petroleo E Minerais (ANPM) had commenced arbitration proceedings against Oilex and its joint venture partners, in regard to the JPDA PSC where Oilex and its joint venture partners in the PSC were subject to a penalty claim of US$17 million (plus interest).  Oilex is the Operator of the PSC on behalf of the joint venture.

In August 2020, on behalf of the Joint Venture Participants, the Company was pleased to announce it had executed a Deed of Settlement and Release (Deed) with the Autoridade Nacional Do Petroleo E Minerais (ANPM) to terminate the ongoing arbitration proceedings arising from the termination of the PSC by the ANPM in 2015 and settle all claims and counterclaims between the parties.  The execution of the Deed sees an amicable conclusion to the arbitration proceedings.

Under the terms of the Deed, Oilex has committed to a settlement of US$800,000 payable in the 2021 and 2022 financial years.  In addition, the Company has entered into an unsecured loan facility agreement with two of its joint venture partners which further provides the Company with the option, at its sole discretion, to extend the settlement payments.  The settlement was fully provided in the Company's annual financial statements to 30 June 2019. 

WEST KAMPAR PSC, CENTRAL SUMATRA, INDONESIA 

During the quarter, the Company announced substantial progress has been made towards the Company's strategic objective to regain a participating interest in the West Kampar PSC in Indonesia, which is expected to lead, subject to financing, to recommencing production from the Pendalian Oilfield.

The Government of Indonesia (GoI) has advised that our Proposed Direct Bid, through the Joint Study of the West Kampar Region, is declared administratively complete and has recorded it as a proposal for a Direct Offer through a Joint Study as stipulated in ESDM Regulation No. 35 of 2008. 

This confirmation from the GoI, which is exclusive to Oilex, provides a pathway to progress the proposed development of West Kampar and provides certain preferential rights in the award of the West Kampar PSC by the GoI.  Oilex's interest in the study and ultimate potential award of the PSC will be on a 50-50 joint basis with its local Indonesian partner, PT Ephindo.

Technical work carried out by Oilex and its advisors estimate that the field can be quickly brought back online at 350 to 400 bopd and that significant additional production potential may be possible from infill drilling and also water injection support.  The return to production will require careful execution in the field given that it has been shut in since 2016.  The oil occurs in five good quality, stacked reservoirs with some stratigraphic complexity, and the application of 3D seismic data which has been acquired but not interpreted should provide a significant improvement in the understanding of the reservoir distribution and future development planning.  Access to the data is to be negotiated with the seismic company that acquired it.  The oil is of good quality with no or little gas.  It is believed that previous production costs can be reduced.  A number of exploration opportunities are present both close to the Pendalian field and in the more distant parts of the block, these require further review evaluation. 

CORPORATE

Series D Loan Restructure and Equity Issue

On the 15^th of March, the Company advised it had entered into an amendment agreement to extend the load repayment date for its Series D loan funding facility (GBP£225,000) to 30 June 2021.  All other terms remain the same with no fees applicable to the amendment.  As at 31 March 2021, the loan was drawn down to GBP £185,000 was has been repaid in full subsequent to the end of the quarter.

Repayment of the Series C Loan

During the quarter, the Series C loan funding facility (GBP£125,000) was fully repaid.

Equity Capital Raising

On the 15^th March the Company advised that it had arranged an equity capital raising, with existing sophisticated shareholders, to secure funding of £0.35 million (A$0.63 million) through the subscription of 250,000,000 new shares at GBP 0.14 pence (0.252 AUD cents) per share (Subscription).  Funds raised from the Subscription have been applied towards increasing the Company's working capital base and debt reduction.   The Company also advised that it had issued 4,642,858 new ordinary shares as consideration in lieu of fees payable to consultants. 

Issue of Director Shares

During the Quarter the Company announced that it had issued 4,646,025 new ordinary shares as consideration in lieu of Non-Executive Directors' fees.

These new ordinary shares were issued at a price of AUD $0.0020 per ordinary share.

The issue of shares to Non-Executive Directors in lieu of fees was approved by shareholders on 16 December 2020.

Acquisition Funding Arranged

Subsequent to the quarter, the Company announced that it has arranged an equity capital raising, with existing sophisticated shareholders and clients of Novum Securities Limited, of £2.4 million (A$4.3 million) through the issue of 1,008,403,361 new ordinary shares at GBP 0.238 pence (0.425 AUD cents) per share (Subscription).  The Subscription is to be completed in two tranches will each subscriber participating in Tranche 1 and 2 on a pro-rata basis:

Tranche 1:   405,000,000 ordinary shares issued at GBP 0.238 pence for £0.964 million under the Company's existing ASX LR7.1 capacity.  Completion of this equity issue is anticipated in early May 2021.

Tranche 2:   603,403,361 ordinary shares issued at GBP 0.238 pence for £1.436 million subject to shareholder approval being obtained. Completion of this equity issue is anticipated in late May 2021.

In addition, each ordinary share issued as part of Tranche 2 will also be issued with one share option, resulting in the issue of an aggregate of 603,403,361 options (Options).  The Options are exercisable at GBP 0.476 pence per share on or before 30 June 2022.  The issue of the options is also subject to shareholder approval.

Funds raised from the Subscription are intended to be applied to the acquisition cost of GSPC's PI, development of the Company's plans to undertake a drilling and testing appraisal program and the Company's working capital base.

Issue of Securities upon Conversion of Options

Subsequent to the Quarter, the Company advised that it had issued 234,348,086 new ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of unlisted options for conversion proceeds of £265,125.  The options exercised comprise:

•       204,545,455 new ordinary shares on the conversion of 204,545,455 options at £0.0011 pursuant to the Series D loan.  The issue of this options class was approved by shareholders on 30 June 2020.  There are no remaining options on issue in this class.

•       14,802,631 new ordinary shares on the conversion of 14,802,631 options at £0.0019.  The issue of this options class was approved by shareholders on 27 November 2019 and 30 June 2020.  There are no remaining options on issue in the class.

•       15,000,000 new ordinary shares on the conversion of 15,000,000 options at £0.0008.  There are no remaining options on issue in the class.

The proceeds of the unlisted options will be applied to the repayment of the Series D Loan and the Company's working capital requirements.

Half Year Report

During the Quarter, the Company released the December 2020 Half Year Report.

Cash Balance

At the end of the quarter, Oilex retained cash resources of A$0.31 million. 

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company:

·        received proceeds of £0.266m following the exercise of unlisted options.

·        arranged an equity capital raise of £2.4m (A$4.3m)

In addition, the Company anticipates receiving cash proceeds of US$0.54m in regard to outstanding GSPC cash calls for the Cambay PSC and cash proceeds of US$0.29 million in regard to the sale of Bhandut.

Capital Structure

The shares and options on issue as at 31 March 2021 were as follows:

Qualified Petroleum Reserves and Resources Evaluator Statement

Pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 5 of the ASX Listing Rules, the information in this report relating to petroleum reserves and resources is based on and fairly represents information and supporting documentation prepared by or under the supervision of Mr Joe Salomon, Managing Director employed by Oilex Ltd. Mr Salomon has over 32 years' experience in petroleum geology and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and AAPG. Mr Salomon meets the requirements of a qualified petroleum reserve and resource evaluator under Chapter 5 of the ASX Listing Rules and consents to the inclusion of this information in this report in the form and context in which it appears. Mr Salomon also meets the requirements of a qualified person under the AIM Note for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies, and consents to the inclusion of this information in this report in the form and context in which it appears.