ABSTRACT
Unconventional reservoir development is a process in which multi-million-dollar decisions must be made in a commodity environment that is both technically and fiscally sensitive. An operator’s decision to acquire a certain unconventional leasehold or concession is a huge financial risk, perhaps one hundred million US dollars or more, that may or may not ever pay out. Reservoir quality is the first requirement, but even if the resource is adequate, changes in operational practices may either substantially improve-or ruin-an operator’s success.
