The Financial Express of India claimed the bids were for WO5-16 in the Northern Carnarvon Basin’s Barrow Sub Basin/Exmouth Plateau and WO5-3 in the northern Browse Basin.

Two other Indian companies, Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) and Prize Petroleum, which have also signed the alliance agreement with Oilex, have agreed to acquire a participating interest in the two blocks, according to the newspaper.

In addition, GAIL was also negotiating farm-ins into Oilex’s existing acreage, the details of which were not released, the Financial Express said.

Meanwhile, Oilex is in farm-in talks over a 30% interest in a Cambay Basin block, awarded to GSPC under the earlier NELP round.

This report follows last month’s announcement that Oilex had signed exploration and production alliance agreements with GAIL, GSPC and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and its affiliate Prize Petroleum Company Ltd.

At the time, Oilex said the alliance provided all companies with the right to participate in oil and gas exploration and production projects in Australia, India and the broader area of the Indian Ocean Rim.