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CAPITALIZED EXPLORATORY WELL COSTS
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
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, 2019, 2018, and 2017. Additions pending the determination of proved reserves excludes amounts capitalized and subsequently charged to expense within the same year.
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(In millions)
Balance at January 1
 
$
159

 
$
350

 
$
264

Additions pending determination of proved reserves
 
286

 
602

 
477

Divestitures and other
 
(100
)
 
(82
)
 
(3
)
Reclassifications to proved properties
 
(179
)
 
(647
)
 
(373
)
Charged to exploration expense
 
(25
)
 
(64
)
 
(15
)
Balance at December 31
 
$
141

 
$
159

 
$
350


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 at year-end 2019, 2018, and 2017:
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
(In millions)
Exploratory well costs capitalized for a period of one year or less
 
$
108

 
$
126

 
$
160

Exploratory well costs capitalized for a period greater than one year
 
33

 
33

 
190

Balance at December 31
 
$
141

 
$
159

 
$
350

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

 
2

 
4


Suspended exploratory well costs capitalized for a period greater than one year since the completion of drilling at December 31, 2019, relate to separate onshore projects in the United States and Egypt. Drilling activity and testing has continued for both projects throughout 2019 and are currently being evaluated for potential development.
Suspended exploratory well costs capitalized for a period greater than one year since the completion of drilling at December 31, 2018, included $28 million related to exploratory drilling in Suriname. In December 2019, Apache entered into a joint venture agreement with Total S.A. selling down 50 percent of its ownership interest in Block 58. In connection with the agreement, proceeds received from Total S.A. upon closing were applied against the carrying value of its Suriname properties.
Suspended exploratory well costs capitalized for a period greater than one year since the completion of drilling at December 31, 2017, included $160 million related to three separate projects in the North Sea. The Seagull assets with exploratory costs of $82 million were divested during 2018, and the remaining two projects were reclassified to proved properties or charged to exploration expense based on management’s assessment and development efforts during 2018.
The following table summarizes aging by geographic area of those exploratory well costs that, as of December 31, 2019, have been capitalized for a period greater than one year, categorized by the year in which drilling was completed:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2016 and
 
 
Total
 
2018
 
2017
 
Prior
 
 
(In millions)
United States
 
$
24

 
$
24

 
$
—

 
$
—

Egypt
 
9

 
9

 
—

 
—

 
 
$
33

 
$
33

 
$
—

 
$
—


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.