Also, I would tend to lean towards the likelihood of EDEX selling the field, or portions of, as opposed to producing the wells to depletion.
Somewhere deep down, and at Tom's age, I think the old, "take the money and run" adage is just too tempting to deny. Money can't do a man near as much good at 86, as it can at 66, and to leave it ALL for the next person is just a tad too charitable.
Besides, how could Tom ever afford the mansion he'll need, for the shareholder party we'll be planning, at his place? LOL