2.2.0.7 false Exploratory well costs 0203 - Disclosure - Exploratory well costs true false false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 2 Exploratory well costs [Abstract] 0 us-gaap_CapitalizedExploratoryWellCostsAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 3 Exploratory well costs 1 us-gaap_SuspendedWellCostsDisclosureTextBlock us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0   <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><b>Note C. </b><b><i>Exploratory well costs</i></b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The Company capitalizes exploratory well costs until a determination is made that the well has either found proved reserves or that it is impaired. The capitalized exploratory well costs are presented in unproved properties in the consolidated balance sheets. If the exploratory well is determined to be impaired, the well costs are charged to expense. </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The following table reflects the Company’s capitalized exploratory well activity during the three and six months ended June 30, 2010: </div> <div align="center"> <table style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">  <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="76%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom"> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="2"><b>Three Months Ended</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="2"><b>Six Months Ended</b></td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>(in thousands)</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="2"><b>June 30, 2010</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="2"><b>June 30, 2010</b></td> <td> </td> </tr>   <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td colspan="9" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Beginning capitalized exploratory well costs </div></td> <td> </td> <td align="left">$</td> <td align="right">24,317</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="left">$</td> <td align="right">8,668</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-15px">Additions to exploratory well costs pending the determination of proved reserves </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">34,161</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">64,496</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-15px">Reclassifications due to determination of proved reserves </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td align="right">(25,616</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">)</td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left"> </td> <td align="right">(40,302</td> <td nowrap="nowrap">)</td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-15px">Exploratory well costs charged to expense </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Ending capitalized exploratory well costs </div></td> <td> </td> <td align="left">$</td> <td align="right">32,862</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="left">$</td> <td align="right">32,862</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> </tr>  </table> </div>   </div>  <div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> <div align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt"> <b> </b> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     The following table provides an aging, at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, of capitalized exploratory well costs based on the date drilling was completed: </div> <div align="center"> <table style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: left" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">  <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="76%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> <td width="5%"> </td> <td width="1%"> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom"> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="2"><b>June 30,</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="2"><b>December 31,</b></td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom"> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="left"><b>(in thousands)</b></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="2"><b>2010</b></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" align="center" colspan="2"><b>2009</b></td> <td> </td> </tr>   <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td colspan="9" align="left" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Wells in drilling progress </div></td> <td> </td> <td align="left">$</td> <td align="right">7,903</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="left">$</td> <td align="right">1,767</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Capitalized exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for a period of one year or less </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">24,959</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">6,901</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom" style="background: #cceeff"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Capitalized exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for a period greater than one year </div></td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="right">—</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 1px solid #000000"> </td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td> <div style="margin-left:30px; text-indent:-15px">Total capitalized exploratory well costs </div></td> <td> </td> <td align="left">$</td> <td align="right">32,862</td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td align="left">$</td> <td align="right">8,668</td> <td> </td> </tr> <tr style="font-size: 1px"> <td> <div style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">  </div></td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td nowrap="nowrap" colspan="2" align="right" style="border-top: 3px double #000000"> </td> <td> </td> </tr>  </table> </div> <div align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">     At June 30, 2010, the Company had 45 gross exploratory wells waiting on their completion, including 21 wells in the Texas Permian area, 18 wells in the New Mexico Permian area and 6 wells in the emerging plays area. </div> </div>  <!-- Begin Block Tagged Note false false false us-types:textBlockItemType textblock This block of text may be used to disclose parts or all of the information related to suspended well costs. 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