Geological and geophysical costs, delay rentals, amortization of unproved leasehold costs, and costs to drill exploratory wells that do not find proved reserves are expensed as oil and gas exploration. the costs of an exploratory well are usually carried as an asset if the well finds a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its capitalization as a producing well and as long as sufficient progress is made assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the project. For certain capital-intensive projects, it may take considerable time to evaluate the future potential of the exploration well and make a determination of its economic viability. The ability to move forward on a project may be dependent on gaining access to transportation or processing facilities or obtaining permits and government or partner approval, the timing of which is beyond the operator’s control. In such cases, exploratory well costs remain suspended as long as the operator is actively pursuing access to necessary facilities and access to such permits and approvals and believe they will be obtained.