“监管机构批准了 WA-488-P 内的海底岩土环境计划，这是勘探钻探之前的一个重要里程碑。”
Melbana 于 2021 年将 WA-488-P 出售给了一家美国石油巨头，该石油巨头计划钻探一口勘探井以评估从现在到 2025 年 12 月，WA-488-P 的蜂箱勘探取决于许可和钻机可用性。一个合适的钻机将于 2024 年第二季度前往澳大利亚，在邻近的许可证中进行钻探。”
根据许可证持有者未来可能进行的选举，梅尔巴纳有权获得 500 万美元的付款。如果勘探井取得成功，Melbana 还有权根据许可证生产每 2500 万桶油当量收取 1000 万美元的特许权使用费。Melbana 没有为该勘探井提供资金承诺。
据独立估计，蜂巢可容纳 14 亿桶石油。

• Regulator approves seabed geotechnical environment plan within WA-488-P - a key milestone prior to exploration drilling.
• Melbana sold WA-488-P in 2021 to a US oil major that is planning to drill an exploration well to evaluate the Beehive prospect in WA-488-P between now and December 2025, subject to permitting and rig availability. A suitable drilling rig is heading to Australia in Q2 2024 to drill in neighbouring permits.
• Melbana is entitled to a payment of US$5 million contingent on elections that the permit holder may make in the future. Melbana is also entitled to a royalty of US$10 million per each 25 million barrels of oil equivalent produced from the permit should the exploration well be a success. Melbana has no funding commitments for the exploration well.
• Beehive has been independently estimated to hold up to 1.4 billion barrels of oil.