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Suspended Wells and Exploration Expenses
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Extractive Industries [Abstract]  
Suspended Wells and Exploration Expenses
Note 6—Suspended Wells and Exploration Expenses
The following table reflects the net changes in suspended exploratory well costs during 2024, 2023 and 2022:

Millions of Dollars
202420232022
Beginning balance$184 527 660 
Additions pending the determination of proved reserves32 — 5 
Reclassifications to proved properties(2)(285)(7)
Charged to dry hole expense(18)(58)(131)
Ending balance$196 184 527 
The following table provides an aging of suspended well balances at December 31:
Millions of Dollars
202420232022
Exploratory well costs capitalized for a period of one year or less$33 — 15 
Exploratory well costs capitalized for a period greater than one year163 184 512 
Ending balance$196 184 527 
Number of projects with exploratory well costs capitalized for a period greater than one year13 14 17 
The following table provides a further aging of those exploratory well costs that have been capitalized for more than one year since the completion of drilling as of December 31, 2024:
Millions of Dollars
Suspended Since
Total2021-20232018-20202017 and Prior
WL4-00—Malaysia(1)
36 12 24 — 
West Willow—Alaska(2)
30 — 30 — 
PL891—Norway(2)
28 — 28 — 
Narwhal Trend—Alaska(1)
25 — 25 — 
Montney—Canada(2)
14 7 7 — 
Other of $10 million or less each(1)(2)
30 — — 30 
Total$163 19 114 30 
(1)Appraisal drilling complete; costs being incurred to assess development.
(2)Additional appraisal wells planned.
Exploration Expenses
The charges discussed below are included in the “Exploration expenses” line on our consolidated income statement.

2024
In our Europe, Middle East and North Africa segment, we recorded approximately $40 million before-tax as dry hole expenses, which included $22 million for two partner operated exploration wells in the Alvheim area in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, and $18 million for the Busta suspended discovery well on license PL782S in the North Sea.

2023
In our Europe, Middle East and North Africa segment, after further evaluation we recognized a before-tax expense of $37 million for dry hole costs associated with the suspended Warka discovery well, drilled in 2020, on license PL1009 in the Norwegian Sea.

In our Alaska segment, we recorded a before-tax expense of approximately $31 million for dry hole costs associated with the Bear-1 exploration well.

2022
In the fourth quarter, we recorded a before-tax expense of $129 million for impairment of certain aged, suspended wells associated with Surmont in our Canada segment.

In our Europe, Middle East and North Africa segment, we recorded a before-tax expense of $102 million for dry hole costs associated with four operated exploration and appraisal wells and one partner-operated well that were drilled in Norway in 2022.