1.   Anglo said it increased exploration in sub-Saharan, west and east Africa, and curtailed gold exploration costs in South Africa.

2.   BP has argued exploration costs in Colombia are among the highest in the world, and Colombia must reduce its take from foreign oil companies to reflect this.

3.   But the Russian company had trouble paying its share of the exploration costs.

4.   Exploration costs are soaring, especially in the mountainous Piedemonte region.

5.   Higher international crude production, lower exploration costs, and higher lubricant and diesel fuel sales helped keep net income from declining further, said Chief Executive Roberto Monti.

6.   Options include a reduced cut for Ecopetrol once production begins, and compensation from the state for these high exploration costs.

7.   San Francisco-based Homestake will see higher exploration costs, which with declining gold prices, could push its results close to break-even, Christensen said.

8.   The bill would provide a royalty holiday for companies to recover their exploration costs in deep waters.

9.   The bill would provide a royalty holiday for companies to recover their exploration costs.

10.   The company has had to sell assets to pay for its exploration costs.