1998 for Unocal and 1987 for Texaco. Settlement of open tax years, as well as tax issues in other countries where the company conducts its businesses, is not expected to have a material effect on the consolidated financial position or liquidity of the company and, in the opinion of management, adequate provision has been made for income and franchise taxes for all years under examination or subject to future examination.

     Global Operations   Chevron and its affiliates conduct business activities in approximately 180 countries. Besides the United States, the company and its affiliates have significant operations in the following countries: Angola, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, France, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, the Partitioned Neutral Zone between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, Republic of the Congo, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

     The company’s operations, particularly exploration and production, can be affected by changing economic, regulatory and political environments in the various countries in which it operates, including the United States. As has occurred in the past, actions could be taken by governments to increase public ownership of the company’s partially or wholly owned businesses or assets or to impose additional taxes or royalties on the company’s operations or both.

     In certain locations, governments have imposed restrictions, controls and taxes, and in others, political conditions have existed that may threaten the safety of employees and the company’s continued presence in those countries. Internal unrest, acts of violence or strained relations between a government and the company or other governments may affect the company’s operations. Those developments have at times significantly affected the company’s related operations and results and are carefully considered by management when evaluating the level of current and future activity in such countries.

     Suspended Wells   The company suspends the costs of exploratory wells pending a final determination of the commercial potential of the related crude oil and natural gas fields. The ultimate disposition of these well costs is dependent on the results of future drilling activity or development decisions or both. At December 31, 2006, the company had approximately $1.2 billion of suspended exploratory wells included in properties, plant and equipment, an increase of $130 million from 2005 and an increase of $568 million from 2004. More than $300 million of suspended wells were added at the time of the Unocal acquisition in August 2005.

     The future trend of the company’s exploration expenses can be affected by amounts associated with well write-offs, including wells that had been previously suspended pending determination as to whether the well had found reserves that could be classified as proved. The effect on exploration expenses in future periods of the $1.2 billion of suspended wells at year-end 2006 is