] Each dollar jump in the price of a barrel of oil adds
] another half billion in earnings. Based on current
] prices, Exxon is accumulating more than $ 1 billion a
] month--even after allocating for dividends, share
] repurchases, and capital spending. If oil simply stays
] where it is now, Exxon's cash could approach $ 40 billion
] in 12 months

That's CASH. That's over a billion dollars profit per MONTH. Hey, you think these guys would maybe want to spend something to be an energy leader, and move from just being Big Oil by taking the step that would make them the kings of the 21st Century. I would, but then, apparantly I'm a dreamer, and they're cocksuckers.