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Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Extractive Industries [Abstract]  
Capitalized Exploratory Well Costs
CAPITALIZED EXPLORATORY WELL COSTS
The following summarizes the changes in capitalized exploratory well costs for each of the last three years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013. Additions pending the determination of proved reserves excludes amounts capitalized and subsequently charged to expense within the same year.
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
(In millions)
Balance at January 1
 
$
849

 
$
630

 
$
546

Additions pending determination of proved reserves
 
382

 
622

 
549

Divestitures and other
 
(557
)
 
(54
)
 
(136
)
Reclassifications to proved properties
 
(369
)
 
(207
)
 
(244
)
Charged to exploration expense
 
(60
)
 
(142
)
 
(85
)
Balance at December 31(1)
 
$
245

 
$
849

 
$
630

(1) Includes $49 million of assets that were held for sale in Australia at December 31, 2014.
The following provides an aging of capitalized exploratory well costs and the number of projects for which exploratory well costs have been capitalized for a period greater than one year since the completion of drilling:
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
 
(In millions)
Exploratory well costs capitalized for a period of one year or less
 
$
184

 
$
504

 
$
350

Exploratory well costs capitalized for a period greater than one year
 
61

 
345

 
280

Balance at December 31(1)
 
$
245

 
$
849

 
$
630

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of projects with exploratory well costs capitalized for a period greater than one year
 
2

 
18

 
30

(1) Includes $49 million of assets that were held for sale in Australia at December 31, 2014.
The following summarizes a further aging by geographic area of those exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for a period greater than one year since the completion of drilling at December 31, 2015:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2012 and
 
 
Total
 
2014
 
2013
 
Prior
 
 
North Sea
 
$
61

 
$
3

 
$
—

 
$
58

 
 
$
61

 
$
3

 
$
—

 
$
58


Projects with suspended exploratory well costs capitalized for a period greater than one year since the completion of drilling are those identified by management as exhibiting sufficient quantities of hydrocarbons to justify potential development. Management is actively pursuing efforts to assess whether reserves can be attributed to these projects.
Suspended exploratory well costs capitalized for a period greater than one year since the completion of drilling at December 31, 2015, primarily relate to the Aviat discovery in the North Sea. The projects associated with the Aviat discovery are comprised of exploration and appraisal drilling activities. The suspended exploratory well costs are pending as additional costs are being incurred to execute a development plan designed to deliver fuel gas to the Forties field, substantially reducing operating costs and extending field life by replacing diesel fuel usage.