TECO-IR,  I also assume that in addition to the benefits of a drilling contract's cashflow; the huge overhead to support a full time drilling teams salaries, injury liability insurances alone, etc can be astronomical.  In addition I've heard that oil company financials are very complex and differ from let's say a widget company's financials. . I'm guessing that one category of an oil E&P's operational expenses, overhead, etc  gives a better looking bottomline than others. If this is true then expensing oil exploration activity versus drilling activity might provide a better looking bottomline.  I'm sure there are good reasons for all of  headquarters decisions albeit some have caused delays, false starts, and frustration amongst shareholders during TECOs growth process.