11.   The Exxon spokesman did not return follow-up phone calls from Cox Newspapers inquiring about the exploratory well of which Jia spoke.

12.   This year, a consortium of companies began the first of several planned exploratory wells to see what lies inside.

13.   Two test wells are being drilled, and the company is seeking approval to drill more exploratory wells, he said.

14.   Harrods, owned by Egyptian magnate Mohamed Al Fayed, will take over exploration activities, including a seismic study of the block and drilling an exploratory well.

15.   It will carry out exploration activities, including the digging of three exploratory wells as well as geological and geophysical studies, said a statement Monday.

16.   Jimmy Callender told reporters a four-man team of experts would supervise the drilling of two exploratory wells.

17.   Santa Fe Resources Inc. will bear offshore operating costs, including collecting three-dimensional seismic data and drilling exploratory wells, Xinhua said.

18.   That information, in turn, is used by companies to find possible locations for drilling exploratory wells.

19.   The company and its partners will drill two more exploratory wells off Angola because the block is large and is believed to have potential, Phillips said.

20.   The consortium plans to drill six exploratory wells in all.