Petroleum Play Life Cycle
Financial & Technical Risk
by Samuel D. LeRoy, Ph.D.

Introduction Life Cycle Financial Cycle Definition Example: Technology driven play Example: Concept driven play

Nature of the Cycle Anatomy of a Play Cycle Timing and Pitfalls Timing and Opportunities Taking Advantage of the Cycle

Exploration Strategies:    Good, Bad and Ugly Exploration Strategies Type 1 - Adapt to New Information Type 2 - Try New Ideas - One Shot Each Type 3 - Stick to Scientific Models Type 4 - Try to Repeat Past Successes

Play Examples Play Examples from the U.S. Gulf Coast Hydrocarbon Distribution - Sweetspots and Geologic Controls Gaining Benefits from Play Cycles Example: Traditional Exploration Geology Example: The "Deep Play" Example: Salt Withdrawal and Extreme Growth Faults Example: Subsalt Imaging Example: Variations on Sequence Stratigraphy

Benefiting from the Cycle Estimating Your Chance of Success Geology Controls Pay Distribution - At All Scales Exploration Strategies and Risk Assessment Compare and Contrast: Two Play Ideas Traditional: U.S. Gulf Coast New: Deep Play of the U.S. Gulf Coast By the Numbers: New Plays in Old Areas - Wave After Wave By the Numbers: Sweetspots at the Regional Scale By the Numbers: Sweetspots at the Field Scale

Summary Summary: Life Cycle Summary: Financial Cycle Remember! Summary: Opportunity After Opportunity

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For more information, contact Sam LeRoy at earthview@aol.com
Last Updated: 4/8/98
© copyright 1998 EarthView Associates, Inc.

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