hi agentm, what I mean is, conoco can just sit and wait at their leisure unless the JVPs hit paydirt soon...at the moment EKA and AUT are getting bled of cash...they should at least try and get value for a farm in rather than wait till the coffers are totally dry....ie get an auction rather than a firesale....if value is there and other parties recognise it the JVPs should be proactive rather than waiting till their options have run out. That's just my take...I don't have evidence but it seems like common sense.