b'increased fossil fuel exploration and production in the U.S. Our need to incur costs associated withresponding to these initiatives or complying with any resulting new legal or regulatory requirementsresulting from these activities that are substantial and not adequately provided for, could have amaterial adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.We may be exposed to liabilities under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws,and any determination that we violated the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or other such laws could havea material adverse effect on our business.We are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other laws that prohibitimproper payments or offers of payments to foreign government officials and political parties for thepurpose of obtaining or retaining business or otherwise securing an improper business advantage. Inaddition, the United Kingdom has enacted the Bribery Act of 2010, and we may be subject to thatlegislation under certain circumstances. We do business and may do additional business in the future incountries and regions in which we may face, directly or indirectly, corrupt demands by officials. We facethe risk of unauthorized payments or offers of payments by one of our employees, contractors orconsultants. Our existing safeguards and any future improvements may prove to be less than effective inpreventing such unauthorized payments, and our employees and consultants may engage in conduct forwhich we might be held responsible. Violations of the FCPA may result in severe criminal or civilsanctions, and we may be subject to other liabilities, which could negatively affect our business,operating results and financial condition. In addition, the U.S. government may seek to hold us liablefor successor liability for FCPA violations committed by companies in which we invest in (for example,by way of acquiring equity interests in, participating as a joint venture partner with, acquiring the assetsof, or entering into certain commercial transactions with) or that we acquire.Deterioration in the credit or equity markets could adversely affect us.We have exposure to different counterparties. For example, we have entered or may enter intotransactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including commercial banks,investment banks, insurance companies, investment funds, and other institutions. These transactionsexpose us to credit risk in the event of default by our counterparty. Deterioration in the credit marketsmay impact the credit ratings of our current and potential counterparties and affect their ability tofulfill existing obligations to us and their willingness to enter into future transactions with us. We mayhave exposure to these financial institutions through any derivative transactions we have or may enterinto. Moreover, to the extent that purchasers of our future production, if any, rely on access to thecredit or equity markets to fund their operations, there is a risk that those purchasers could default intheir contractual obligations to us if such purchasers were unable to access the credit or equity marketsfor an extended period of time.We may incur substantial losses and become subject to liability claims as a result of future oil and natural gasoperations, for which we may not have adequate insurance coverage.We intend to maintain insurance against certain risks in the operation of the business we plan todevelop and in amounts in which we believe to be reasonable. Such insurance, however, may containexclusions and limitations on coverage or may not be available at a reasonable cost or at all. Forexample, we are not insured against political or terrorism risks. We may elect not to obtain insurance ifwe believe that the cost of available insurance is excessive relative to the risks presented. Losses andliabilities arising from uninsured and underinsured events could materially and adversely affect ourbusiness, financial condition and results of operations. Further, even in instances where we maintainadequate insurance coverage, potential delays related to receipt of insurance proceeds as well as delaysassociated with the repair or rebuilding of damaged facilities could also materially and adversely affectour business, financial condition and results of operations.60'