Exxon does borrow from you sir, the investor. Try doing a google search on XOM. If they didn't need additional money to drill more wells, then why are they publicly traded? Does this mean that buying Exxon Stock and making a profit on it is too good to be true? I have made quiet a bit of money on Exxon stock. On the other hand, yes it is a risky investment and only a fool would have to believe in a "guaranteed" oil well. That is why the returns are so high. The bottom line is that the way those deals are structured allows people direct participation into wells, where as buying Exxon stock you don't get those rewards or tax breaks. I encourage you too look into any deal that is thrown your way no matter what the product is, because there are deals out there that make people rich; there are others though that don't work at all. Either way, I enjoyed what you had to say and thought I would comment. Have a great day.