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April 2008

Exploration and development costs

By Himanshu V. Kishnadwala, Chartered Accountant
Reading Time 2 mins

New Page 1GAIL (INDIA) LTD. — (31-3-2007)

5. Exploration and development costs :

‘Successful Efforts Method’ is being followed for accounting
of oil and gas exploration and production activities which include :

(a) Survey costs are expensed in the year in which these
are incurred.

(b) Cost of exploratory wells is carried as ‘Exploratory
wells in progress’. Such exploratory wells in progress are capitalised in the
year in which the producing property is created or is expensed in the year
when determined to be dry/abandoned.

(c) All wells appearing as ‘Exploratory wells in progress’
which are more than two years old from the date of completion of drilling are
charged to Profit and Loss Account except those wells which have proved
reserves and the development of the fields in which the wells are located has
been planned. Such wells, if any, are written back on commencement of
commercial production.


Revenue recognition :

12. Sale proceeds are accounted for, based on the consumer
price inclusive of statutory levies and charges up to the place where ownership
of goods is transferred.

13. The interest allocable to operations in respect of assets
commissioned during the year is worked out by adopting the average of debt
equity ratios at the beginning and closing of that year and applying the average
ratio of debt thus worked out to the capitalised cost.

14. Pre-project expenditure relating to projects which are
considered unviable/closed is charged off to revenue in the year of
declaration/closure.


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