>my thoughts...XOM delays making a decision, advises the FO board of the delay at the last second, of the last hour, of the last day when it has to decide...

I don’t know Dirtyboots, but I have not seen any evidence from XOM to support that kind of thinking. Actually, there was ample evidence to the contrary in the Exxon press conference on the 14th of December 2009. ExxonMobil's acquisition of XTO Energy was an investment decision to expend its already growing unconventional portfolio and increase its gas reserve, of course as an added bonus they also get TXO’s unconventional expertise. At the same time Rex Tillerson did emphasize that this expertise will be put to use in Exxon’s unconventional plays worldwide.

So, in my view, Exxon isn’t going to ask TXO whether they can get the job done, rather they will tell TXO to get the job done. And there is the difference.