CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE HTML> <html lang="en-US"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.arescotx.com:80/og-education-resources/frequently-asked-questions/","20150403232352","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1428103432"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta charset="UTF-8"/>  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1"> <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no"> <title>Frequently Asked Oil & Gas Questions</title> <link href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Titillium+Web:400,600,700" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"> <style type="text/css" media="screen"> @import url( https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/themes/arescoA3K/style.css ); </style> <link rel="stylesheet" type"text css" href="/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/themes/arescoA3K/print.css" media="print">   <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS 2.0" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/feed/"/> <link rel="archives" title="April 2015" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2015/04/"/> <link rel="archives" title="March 2015" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2015/03/"/> <link rel="archives" title="February 2015" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2015/02/"/> <link rel="archives" title="January 2015" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2015/01/"/> <link rel="archives" title="December 2014" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2014/12/"/> <link rel="archives" title="November 2014" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2014/11/"/> <link rel="archives" title="October 2014" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2014/10/"/> <link rel="archives" title="September 2014" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2014/09/"/> <link rel="archives" title="August 2014" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2014/08/"/> <link rel="archives" title="July 2014" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2014/07/"/> <link rel="archives" title="June 2014" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2014/06/"/> <link rel="archives" title="May 2014" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2014/05/"/> <link rel="archives" title="April 2014" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2014/04/"/> <link rel="archives" title="March 2014" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2014/03/"/> <link rel="archives" title="February 2014" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2014/02/"/> <link rel="archives" title="January 2014" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2014/01/"/> <link rel="archives" title="December 2013" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2013/12/"/> <link rel="archives" title="November 2013" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2013/11/"/> <link rel="archives" title="October 2013" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2013/10/"/> <link rel="archives" title="September 2013" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2013/09/"/> <link rel="archives" title="June 2013" href="http://www.arescotx.com/2013/06/"/>  <meta name="description" itemprop="description" content="How can an individual outside the oil and gas industry invest in exploration and production activities? There are two basic options for investing in oil and"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/og-education-resources/frequently-asked-questions/"/>  <link rel="stylesheet" id="fancybox-css-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/MapifyPro/assets/js/fancybox/jquery.fancybox.css?ver=4.1.1" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="style.css-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/google-language-translator/css/style.css?ver=4.1.1" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="responsive-lightbox-swipebox-front-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/responsive-lightbox/assets/swipebox/source/swipebox.css?ver=4.1.1" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="responsive-video-light-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/responsive-video-light/css/responsive-videos.css?ver=20130111" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="wpsr-socialbuttons-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-socializer/public/css/wp-socializer-buttons-css.css?ver=2.4.9.8" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="js_composer_custom_css-css" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/uploads/js_composer/custom.css?ver=4.4.3" type="text/css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="ultimate-style-min-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/Ultimate_VC_Addons/assets/min-css/ultimate.min.css?ver=3.9.4" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="bsf-Defaults-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/uploads/smile_fonts/Defaults/Defaults.css?ver=4.1.1" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="UserAccessManagerAdmin-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/user-access-manager/css/uamAdmin.css?ver=1.0" type="text/css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="UserAccessManagerLoginForm-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/user-access-manager/css/uamLoginForm.css?ver=1.0" type="text/css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="ubermenu-basic-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/ubermenu/standard/styles/basic.css?ver=2.3.0.2" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="ubermenu-shiny-black-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/ubermenu/standard/styles/skins/shinyblack.css?ver=2.3.0.2" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="new-royalslider-core-css-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/new-royalslider/lib/royalslider/royalslider.css?ver=3.0.93" type="text/css" media="all"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="rsDefault-css-css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/new-royalslider/lib/royalslider/skins/default/rs-default.css?ver=3.0.93" type="text/css" media="all"/> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.js?ver=1.11.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=1.2.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/MapifyPro/assets/js/fancybox/jquery.fancybox.pack.js?ver=4.1.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/MapifyPro/assets/js/hammer.min.js?ver=4.1.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/MapifyPro/assets/js/jcarousel/lib/jquery.jcarousel.min.js?ver=4.1.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/js?sensor=false&libraries=geometry&ver=4.1.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/google-language-translator/js/flags.js?ver=4.1.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/responsive-lightbox/assets/swipebox/source/jquery.swipebox.min.js?ver=4.1.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var rlArgs = {"script":"swipebox","selector":"lightbox","custom_events":"","activeGalleries":"1","animation":"1","hideBars":"1","hideBarsDelay":"5000","videoMaxWidth":"1080"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/responsive-lightbox/js/front.js?ver=4.1.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/Ultimate_VC_Addons/assets/min-js/ultimate.min.js?ver=3.9.4"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/user-access-manager/js/functions.js?ver=4.1.1"></script> <link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="http://www.arescotx.com/xmlrpc.php?rsd"/> <link rel="wlwmanifest" type="application/wlwmanifest+xml" href="http://www.arescotx.com/wp-includes/wlwmanifest.xml"/> <meta name="generator" content="WordPress 4.1.1"/> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/?p=4004"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/flexi-quote-rotator/styles/" type="text/css" media="screen"/> <script type="text/javascript"> quoteRotator = { i: 1, quotes: ["<span id='quote'>As of mid 2013, Texas has approximately 830 active drilling rigs, which accounts for around 47 percent of all U.S. drilling rigs and one quarter of drilling rigs worldwide.</span> <span id='quoteauthor'>Source: AEI Ideas</span>", "<span id='quote'>Oil production in the Lone Star State has more than doubled in less than three years, from 1.142 million barrels of oil per day (BOPD) in July 2010 to 2.295 million BOPD in February 2013.</span> <span id='quoteauthor'>Source: AEI Ideas</span>", "<span id='quote'>The exponential increase in Texas oil output over roughly the last three years has completely reversed the previous 23-year decline in the state’s oil production that took place from 1986 to 2009.</span> <span id='quoteauthor'>Source: AEI Ideas</span>", "<span id='quote'>In mid-2009, Texas was producing less than 20% of America’s domestic crude oil. The recent gusher of unconventional oil being produced in the Eagle Ford Shale and Permian Basin areas of Texas, thanks to breakthrough drilling technologies, has recently pushed the Lone Star State’s share of domestic crude oil above 30%.</span> <span id='quoteauthor'>Source: AEI Ideas</span>", ], numQuotes: 4, fadeDuration: 2, fadeoutDuration: 0, delay: 5, quotesInit: function(){ if (this.numQuotes < 1){ document.getElementById('quoterotator').innerHTML="No Quotes Found"; } else { this.quoteRotate(); setInterval('quoteRotator.quoteRotate()', (this.fadeDuration + this.fadeoutDuration + this.delay) * 1000); } }, quoteRotate: function(){ jQuery('#quoterotator').hide().html(this.quotes[this.i - 1]).fadeIn(this.fadeDuration * 1000).css('filter','').delay(this.delay * 1000).fadeOut(this.fadeoutDuration * 1000); this.i = this.i % (this.numQuotes) + 1; } } </script><style type="text/css">.goog-tooltip {display: none !important;}.goog-tooltip:hover {display: none !important;}.goog-text-highlight {background-color: transparent !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important;}#google_language_translator a {display: none !important; }.goog-te-gadget {color:transparent !important;}.goog-te-gadget { font-size:0px !important; }.goog-branding { display:none; }#flags { display:none; }.goog-te-banner-frame{visibility:hidden !important;}body { top:0px !important;}</style>    <meta name="generator" content="Powered by Visual Composer - drag and drop page builder for WordPress."/>   <script type="text/javascript"> var wu=["https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js","https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1","https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js","https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/https://platform.linkedin.com/in.js","https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/https://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.js"],wc=5; function wpsrload(){ for(var i=0;i<wc;i++){wpsrasync(wu[i]);} } function wpsrasync(u){var a=document.createElement("script");a.type="text/javascript";a.async=true;a.src=u;var s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(a,s);} wpsrload(); </script>  <script type="text/javascript">jQuery(document).ready(function(){ jQuery(".ult_modal-body iframe").each(function(index, element) { var st = '<style type="text/css" id="modal-css">'; st += ".fluid-width-video-wrapper{padding: 0 !important;}"; st += "</style>"; jQuery("head").append(st); }); });</script>  <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/easy-columns/css/easy-columns.css" type="text/css" media="screen, projection"/>  <style type="text/css" id="ubermenu-style-generator-css"> /* Image Text Padding */ #megaMenu .ss-nav-menu-with-img > a > .wpmega-link-title, #megaMenu .ss-nav-menu-with-img > a > .wpmega-link-description, #megaMenu .ss-nav-menu-with-img > a > .wpmega-item-description, #megaMenu .ss-nav-menu-with-img > span.um-anchoremulator > .wpmega-link-title, #megaMenu .ss-nav-menu-with-img > span.um-anchoremulator > .wpmega-link-description, #megaMenu .ss-nav-menu-with-img > span.um-anchoremulator > .wpmega-item-description{ padding-left: 23px; } </style>  <noscript><style> .wpb_animate_when_almost_visible { opacity: 1; }</style></noscript> <script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-46107884-1', 'arescotx.com'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> </head> <body> <div class="wrapper"> <div class="logo"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352im_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/themes/arescoA3K/images/Aresco-Energy.png" width="241" height="82" alt="Aresco Energy" class="thelogo"/></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352im_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/themes/arescoA3K/images/myblacklogo.png" width="241" height="82" alt="Aresco Energy" class="myblacklogo"/></a></div> <div class="slogan"><p>A continuing legacy of superior performance</p></div> <div class="login"><p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-login.php" title="Login">Partner Login</a></p></div> <div id="topNav"> <div id="megaMenu" class="megaMenuContainer megaMenu-nojs wpmega-preset-shiny-black megaResponsive megaResponsiveToggle wpmega-withjs megaMenuOnHover megaFullWidth megaMenuHorizontal wpmega-noconflict megaMinimizeResiduals megaResetStyles"><div id="megaMenuToggle" class="megaMenuToggle">Menu  <span class="megaMenuToggle-icon"></span></div><ul id="megaUber" class="megaMenu"><li id="menu-item-1997" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children mega-with-sub ss-nav-menu-item-0 ss-nav-menu-item-depth-0 ss-nav-menu-reg"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/about-aresco/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">About</span></a> <ul class="sub-menu sub-menu-1"> <li id="menu-item-6044" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/management-team/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Management Team</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-2587" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/about-aresco/why-aresco/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Why Aresco</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-2586" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/about-aresco/why-invest/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Why Oil & Gas</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-4950" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/about-aresco/oil-investing-tax-shelter/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Oil Investing Tax Shelter</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-5539" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/should-i-invest-in-oil-gas/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Should I invest in oil & gas?</span></a></li></ul> </li><li id="menu-item-2164" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-1 ss-nav-menu-item-depth-0 ss-nav-menu-reg"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/featured-projects/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Projects</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-2126" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-2 ss-nav-menu-item-depth-0 ss-nav-menu-reg"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/operations/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Areas of Interest</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-3132" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children mega-with-sub ss-nav-menu-item-3 ss-nav-menu-item-depth-0 ss-nav-menu-reg"><a title="Texas Oil Well Photos & Videos" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/photos-videos/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Photos & Videos</span></a> <ul class="sub-menu sub-menu-1"> <li id="menu-item-4654" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/photos-videos/3d-rig-tour/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">3D Rig Tour</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-4652" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/photos-videos/multi-formation-vertical-well-drilling-animation/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Multi Formation Vertical Well Drilling Animation</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-4655" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/photos-videos/well-log-animation/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Well Log Animation</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-4656" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/photos-videos/salt-water-disposal-animation/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Salt Water Disposal Animation</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-4663" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/photos-videos/drilling-haskell-east-1-haskell-county-tx/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Drilling Haskell East # 1 well</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-4662" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/photos-videos/dexter-trinidad-drilling-rig-houston-county/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Dexter Trinidad Drilling Rig</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-4842" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/photos-videos/drilling-the-noodle-canyon-1-in-jones-county-texas/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Noodle Canyon #1</span></a></li></ul> </li><li id="menu-item-2334" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page current-page-ancestor current-menu-ancestor current-menu-parent current-page-parent current_page_parent current_page_ancestor menu-item-has-children mega-with-sub ss-nav-menu-item-4 ss-nav-menu-item-depth-0 ss-nav-menu-reg"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/og-education-resources/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Resources</span></a> <ul class="sub-menu sub-menu-1"> <li id="menu-item-4008" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page current-menu-item page_item page-item-4004 current_page_item ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/og-education-resources/frequently-asked-questions/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Frequently Asked Questions</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-4001" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/og-education-resources/oil-and-gas-quickfacts/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Oil and Gas #QuickFacts</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-4002" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/og-education-resources/glossary-terms/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Glossary of Terms</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-4003" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/og-education-resources/common-abbreviations/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Common Abbreviations</span></a></li></ul> </li><li id="menu-item-5288" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children mega-with-sub ss-nav-menu-item-5 ss-nav-menu-item-depth-0 ss-nav-menu-reg"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/oil-gas-industry-consulting-services/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Consulting</span></a> <ul class="sub-menu sub-menu-1"> <li id="menu-item-5293" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/oil-gas-industry-consulting-services/oil-and-gas-investment-evaluation/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Oil and Gas Investment Evaluation</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-5292" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/oil-gas-industry-consulting-services/geologic-field-appraisal/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Geologic Field Appraisal</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-5291" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/oil-gas-industry-consulting-services/field-revitalization/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Field Revitalization</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-5289" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/oil-gas-industry-consulting-services/submitting-an-investment-opportunity-evaluation-request/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Investment Evaluation Request</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-5290" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-depth-1"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/oil-gas-industry-consulting-services/submitting-a-prospect-review-request/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Submit Prospect Review Request</span></a></li></ul> </li><li id="menu-item-1558" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-6 ss-nav-menu-item-depth-0 ss-nav-menu-reg"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/latest-news/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">News</span></a></li><li id="menu-item-65" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page ss-nav-menu-item-7 ss-nav-menu-item-depth-0 ss-nav-menu-reg"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/contact-us/"><span class="wpmega-link-title">Contact</span></a></li></ul></div></div> <div class="sidebarYellow"> </div> <div class="sidebarWhite"> <div class="text"> <div id="content"> <h1>Frequently Asked Questions</h1> <h2>How can an individual outside the oil and gas industry invest in exploration and production activities?</h2> <p>There are two basic options for investing in oil and gas exploration and production – indirectly and directly.</p> <p>Indirect investments such as corporate stocks, Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs), and energy-related mutual funds are liquid investments made in a publically traded company or a group of companies where you share in market-related growth potential. While this option provides many advantages, and carries its own unique risk-to-reward profile, it does not allow the investor to directly benefit from newly established production on a per barrel, or BOE, basis.</p> <p>Investing directly, allows an investor to Partner with an Operator like Aresco on a specific project––either drilling new wells or purchasing production (cash flow) from existing wells. As part of a standard oil and gas industry joint venture with Aresco, you participate directly in all aspects of owning a stake in the revenues potentially generated from an oil and/or gas well. This of course carries a different risk-to-reward profile when compared to market-based investments, but generally allows the investor the potential for much higher returns as well as excellent tax benefits afforded to companies and individuals who directly invest in the oil patch.</p> <p>Deciding what type of investment may work for you will generally depend on your tolerance for risk, available capital to invest and your goals for making an investment (income, growth, and/or tax write offs).</p> <h2>What are the risks associated with investing in oil and gas?</h2> <p>There are varying degrees of risk in all investments, including partial or complete loss of capital. This can occur with just about any investment these days. Direct oil and gas investments are no different. Dry holes are very much a part of the industry and even the biggest and most experienced companies are not immune. All Operators have an individualized approach and tolerance to taking exploration risks. At Aresco, we are not out to prove anything by taking on undue risk to be a part of groundbreaking trends. We focus on proven areas with strong production history to ensure we moderate our risks. We further balance our exploration risk by partnering with experienced operators who have a proven track record of finding and producing oil and gas.</p> <h2>What are the tax benefits?</h2> <p>The multiple tax benefits available to investors shows how strongly the U.S. government feels about promoting domestic oil and gas exploration and production. An investment into a drilling program will result in favorable tax benefits no matter the outcome. In the event of a dry hole, a write off is generally allowed for the entire amount invested for the tax year the investment was made. While taking a complete loss and receiving a deduction is not surprising to many, the benefits available to an investor on an active well are even better and provide three separate deduction avenues.</p> <p>• Intangible Drilling Costs (IDCs): Typically, investors will be able to write off approximately 70-80% of their initial investment the first year through this deduction.<br/> • Tangible Drilling Costs (TDCs): These costs, or the remainder after IDCs are deducted, are generally 100% deductible, but must be depreciated over a seven year period.<br/> • Small Producers Exemption: This deduction is also referred to as a ‘Depletion Allowance’ and allows you to earn 15% of the gross income from the investment tax-free.</p> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.investopedia.com/articles/07/oil-tax-break.asp" target="_blank">Click here to read more…</a></p> <h2>When would I begin to see a return on an active producer?</h2> <p>Once a well begins producing, the first revenue check will be distributed within 30-60 days depending on when production began in relation to the sale cycle for oil and gas in the area. This milestone is highly significant to oil companies and investors alike because it marks the beginning of achieving an ‘initial payout’ of the original capital invested. Many companies marketing to investors sell returns in as little as six to nine months. While this does happen, it doesn’t happen often enough for those of us in the O&G industry to regard it as a benchmark. On a well with good longevity potential, achieving an initial cash-on-cash payout in 18-24 months is considered excellent.</p> <h2>Should I invest in just one well?</h2> <p>Direct investment in oil and gas exploration and production is a long-term investment strategy that, like most other long-term investments, benefits from diversification. Diversification spreads your risk, increases the chance of success, and can complement your other investment and tax strategies by providing significant write-offs. As such, we rarely suggest you invest in a single project. Instead, we strongly suggest you invest like an E&P company––spreading your risk and reward across multiple projects, or prospects as we call them. Our own diversification strategy has us currently positioned in three separate sections of the Permian Basin in west Texas and New Mexico in addition to the Texas Panhandle’s Anadarko Basin, the east Texas Austin Chalk, and the Woodbine and Eagle Ford Shale Formations.</p> <p><em><strong>At Aresco, we believe in being highly informed and, as an investor in oil and gas, you should be too. <a title="Contact Us" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/contact-us/">We invite you to contact us anytime</a> with additional questions and to learn more about our activities.</strong></em></p> </div> <div id="sidebar"> <p class="parent"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/og-education-resources/">Oil and Gas Education and Resources</a></p> <ul> <li class="page_item page-item-4004 current_page_item"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/og-education-resources/frequently-asked-questions/">Frequently Asked Questions</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-3213"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/og-education-resources/oil-and-gas-quickfacts/">Oil and Gas #QuickFacts</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-30"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/og-education-resources/glossary-terms/">Glossary of Terms</a></li> <li class="page_item page-item-2349"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/og-education-resources/common-abbreviations/">Common Abbreviations</a></li> </ul> <center><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352im_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/themes/arescoA3K/images/vision-opportunity-drive.png" width="144" height="138" alt="Vision Opportunity Drive" style="padding-top:15px;"/></center> </div> <div class="clearFix"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"><div class="text"><p>Aresco LP 861 N Coleman Road, Ste. 105 Prosper, TX 75078 <b>Phone: 972-992-3127</b> Fax: 972-992-3137 </p><div id="social"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aresco/510139499068554" target="_blank"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352im_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/themes/arescoA3K/images/facebook.png" width="31" height="31" alt="Facebook"/></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/https://twitter.com/ArescoLP" target="_blank"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352im_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/themes/arescoA3K/images/twitter.png" width="31" height="31" alt="Twitter"/></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.linkedin.com/company/aresco-lp" target="_blank"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352im_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/themes/arescoA3K/images/linkedin.png" width="31" height="31" alt="LinkedIn"/></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/feed/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352im_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/themes/arescoA3K/images/rss.png" width="31" height="31" alt="RSS"/></a></div> </center> <div class="clearFix"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="disclaimer"><center><p>This is not an offer to sell nor solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Such offer may only be made by a written prospectus in a jurisdiction wherein the offering is duly registered or exempt therefrom. This content is provided for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed as tax, legal, or accounting advice. Investing in oil and gas is highly speculative and could result in substantial losses. There are no guarantees that any returns will be achieved. Potential investors should consult their attorney, accountant, and financial advisors before investing in oil and gas.</p></center> <p class="copyright">Copyright © 2015<br>Aresco LP. All rights reserved.</p> <p class="credits">Site by <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.a3kdesign.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">A3K Advertising, Inc.</a><br>Admin <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-login.php">Log in</a></p> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/ubermenu/core/js/hoverIntent.js?ver=4.1.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ var uberMenuSettings = {"speed":"300","trigger":"hoverIntent","orientation":"horizontal","transition":"slide","hoverInterval":"20","hoverTimeout":"400","removeConflicts":"on","autoAlign":"off","noconflict":"off","fullWidthSubs":"off","androidClick":"off","iOScloseButton":"on","loadGoogleMaps":"off","repositionOnLoad":"off"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/ubermenu/core/js/ubermenu.min.js?ver=4.1.1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/new-royalslider/lib/royalslider/jquery.royalslider.min.js?ver=3.0.93"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/MapifyPro/assets/js/map-instance.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/MapifyPro/assets/js/tooltip.js"></script><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403232352cs_/http://www.arescotx.com/wp-content/plugins/MapifyPro/assets/map.css"><div class="mpfy-popup"> <a href="#" class="close">Close</a> <div class="mpfy-popup-cnt"> </div> </div> <script> jQuery(document).ready(function($) { $("a.nturl").on("click",function() { default_lang = "en"; lang_prefix = $(this).attr("class").split(" ")[2]; if (lang_prefix == default_lang) { load_default(); } else { load_selected_language(); } function load_default() { doGoogleLanguageTranslator(default_lang + "|" + default_lang); } function load_selected_language() { doGoogleLanguageTranslator(default_lang + "|" + lang_prefix); } }); $("a.flag").on("click",function() { default_lang = "en"; lang_prefix = $(this).attr("class").split(" ")[2]; if (lang_prefix == default_lang) { load_default(); } else { load_selected_language(); } function load_default() { doGoogleLanguageTranslator(default_lang + "|" + default_lang); } function load_selected_language() { doGoogleLanguageTranslator(default_lang + "|" + lang_prefix); } }); if ($ ("body > #google_language_translator").length == 0) { $("#glt-footer").html("<div id='google_language_translator'></div>"); } }); </script> <div id="flags" style="display:none"><ul id="sortable" class="ui-sortable"><li id="English"><a title="English" class="notranslate flag en"></a></li></ul></div><div id="glt-footer"></div><script type="text/javascript">function GoogleLanguageTranslatorInit() { new google.translate.TranslateElement({pageLanguage: 'en', includedLanguages:'zh-CN,en,ko', autoDisplay: false}, 'google_language_translator');}</script><script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150403232352js_/http://translate.google.com/translate_a/element.js?cb=GoogleLanguageTranslatorInit"></script>   </body> </html>