Would you lay out big $$$ if you didn't know the potential as well as up front costs minimums and maximums?
A merger is what you already have here, as the well possibly has more than one financer, don't you think?
Let me put it to you another way: Suppose you are drilling a well and you need more financing to complete the well...would you give me (the money man) over 50% of the production profits after the well overhead is paid??? It don't work that way!!! You would try to get me on board at the least possible cost and still maintain operating control of the well! Are these normal circumstances?
If you don't agree with this analogy, I got a Bridge I'll sell ya, but it'll cost ya!