geological and geophysical costs

Expenses2

1. 720-932Extractive Activities—Oil and Gas720 Other Expenses

   This Subtopic identifies costs unique to oil- and gas-producing activities that do not result in acquisition of an asset and therefore must be charged to expense as incurred. Under the successful efforts framework, geological and geophysical (G&G) costs, costs of carrying and retaining undeveloped properties, dry hole and bottom hole contributions, and the costs of exploratory wells (and exploratory-type stratigraphic test wells) that do not find proved reserves are expensed immediately. It also notes the customary practice of accumulating an in-house exploration department's costs and allocating them to exploration activities using standardized charges.

2. 740-932Extractive Activities—Oil and Gas740 Income Taxes

   This subtopic covers income tax accounting peculiar to oil- and gas-producing activities. Its core rules: the tax benefit of statutory depletion in excess of cost depletion is recognized only in the period the excess is deducted on the tax return (no deferred tax asset before then), and the likelihood that future statutory depletion will reduce or eliminate future taxable income must be weighed in the more-likely-than-not realizability assessment for deferred tax assets. It also notes that costs such as intangible drilling and development costs and geological and geophysical costs are deducted for tax purposes in periods different from when they are expensed or amortized for book purposes, creating temporary differences.