Deci

si
on-
mak
ingi
nanuncer
tai
nwor
ld-
AChev
roncasest
udy

I
ntr
oduct
ion

Moder
nor
gani
sat
ionsoper
atewi
thi
nanenvi
ronmentofchange.Ther
ear
eal
lsor
tsof
f
act
orst
hatchangewi
thi
nthi
senvi
ronment-f
orexampl
e,t
hemar
ketpr
iceofpr
oduct
s
andr
awmat
eri
als,
thel
evelofcompet
it
ion,
mar
ketoppor
tuni
ti
es,
changi
nggover
nment
l
egi
slat
ionand,
ofcour
se,
technol
ogy.

Thi
scasest
udyf
ocusesont
hewayi
nwhi
cht
heoi
lcompany,
Chevr
on,
devel
oped
f
lexi
blesol
uti
onst
oenabl
eitt
ocopewi
tht
heenvi
ronmentofchange.I
npar
ti
cul
ar,
it
showshowChevr
onhassuccessf
ull
ydevel
opedf
lexi
bledeci
sion-
maki
ngf
ort
he
devel
opmentofi
tsNor
thSeaAl
baFi
eldwhi
chl
ies130mi
lest
othenor
theastof
Aber
deen.

Thest
udyemphasi
sest
hewayi
nwhi
chChevr
onhaspr
ogr
essedf
rom asl
owmovi
ng
syst
em ofcommuni
cat
ions,
basedonf
unct
ionall
i
nesi
nsequent
ialst
ages,
toan
i
mpr
ovedwayofwor
king,
basedondeci
sion-
maki
ngi
nempower
edi
nter
disci
pli
nar
y
t
eams.Thi
sappr
oachal
lowsqui
ck,
inci
sivet
hinki
ngandadopt
ionofappr
opr
iat
e
t
echni
calsol
uti
onst
ooi
lext
ract
ion.

I
ntr
oduct
iont
otheoi
li
ndust
ry

Theoi
lindust
ryi
soneoft
hemaj
orsect
orsoft
heUKeconomy,
empl
oyi
ng,
dir
ect
lyand
i
ndi
rect
ly,
380,
000peopl
e.Cur
rent
lyaf
if
thofal
lindust
ri
ali
nvest
menti
ntheUK(
£4
bi
ll
ionperannum)comesf
rom t
heoi
landgasi
ndust
ry.Br
it
ain’
sof
fshor
eindust
ry
pr
oducessome80%oft
hecount
ry’
stot
alpr
imar
yener
gy(
butgener
atesonl
y3%oft
he
UK’
sat
mospher
icemi
ssi
onsofcar
bondi
oxi
deandmet
hane)
.£150bi
ll
ioni
noi
land
gast
axeshasf
lowedi
ntot
heI
nlandRevenuesi
nce1970.Oi
lby-
product
spr
ovi
det
he
basi
sformanymoder
npr
oduct
s-cosmet
ics,
det
ergent
,cont
actl
enses,
coat
ingsf
or
pi
ll
s,non-
sti
ckpans,
CDs,
fer
ti
li
ser
s,f
abr
ics,
pai
ntandi
nsul
ati
onmat
eri
alsf
ort
he
home-t
onamebutaf
ew.TheNor
thSeaoi
lfi
eldshavemadeoneoft
hemost
si
gni
fi
cantcont
ri
but
ionst
otheUKeconomyovert
hepast25year
s.
 Theoi
lindust
ryi
sspl
iti
ntoanumberofupst
ream anddownst
ream act
ivi
ti
es.
Upst
ream r
efer
stot
her
awmat
eri
alendoft
hebusi
nessandi
ncl
udesal
lact
ivi
ty
di
rect
edatt
hef
indi
ngandpr
oduct
ionofcr
udeoi
landi
tsdel
iver
ytot
her
efi
ner
y.
Downst
ream r
efer
stoal
lact
ivi
tydi
rect
edatt
hemanuf
act
ureofr
efi
nedpr
oduct
sand
t
hei
rmar
ket
inganddel
iver
ytocust
omer
s.Thi
scasest
udyf
ocusesont
hedeci
sion-
maki
ngpr
ocessesatChevr
on,
whi
choper
atesonl
yupst
ream i
ntheUK.

Vi
si
on

Chevr
onEur
opei
spar
tofagl
obalor
gani
sat
ion,
Chevr
onCor
por
ati
on,
whi
chi
sthesi
xth
l
argestoi
landgascompanyi
nthewor
ld.TheCor
por
ati
onempl
oys40,
000peopl
e
wor
ld-
wideandpr
oducesover1.
4mi
ll
ionbar
rel
sofoi
landl
iqui
dsperday.(
1bar
relof
oi
l=42USgal
lonsor35I
mper
ialgal
lons)
.Chevr
on(
joi
ntl
ywi
thTexaco)wast
hef
ir
st
companyt
odr
il
lint
heNor
thSea,
in1964.

Aspar
toft
hemuchl
argerCor
por
ati
on,
Chevr
onEur
opei
sexpect
edt
ofi
tinwi
tht
he
wi
dergl
obalgoal
soft
hepar
entor
gani
sat
ion.I
tsvi
sioni
stobet
hepet
rol
eum company
ofchoi
cei
ncount
ri
eswher
eithassi
gni
fi
cantoper
ati
ons,
namel
yUK,
Nor
wayand
I
rel
and.Chevr
onEur
openeedst
obesuccessf
ulbecause,
li
keanyot
herpar
tofal
arge
or
gani
sat
ion,
itneedst
ocompet
efori
nvest
mentf
undsagai
nstpr
oject
sinot
her
l
ocat
ions,
e.g.Kazakst
an,
WestAf
ri
ca,
etc.Chevr
onCor
por
ati
onwi
llassesst
he
pr
oposal
sputf
orwar
dbyi
tssubsi
diar
iesf
orf
undsf
ornewpr
oject
s.

I
ntr
oduct
iont
oAl
ba

Nor
thSeaf
iel
dsar
erar
elydevel
opedbyasi
ngl
eoper
ati
ngcompany.Thecostof
expl
orat
ionanddevel
opmental
onegener
all
ymakest
hisi
nfeasi
ble.However
,joi
ning
f
orceswi
thot
heroi
lcompani
esi
snotsol
elyamat
terofcost
.Thecol
lect
iveweal
thof
exper
ienceandi
deast
hatcanbeshar
edbyf
ormi
ngaj
ointvent
urehel
pst
oensur
ethat
f
iel
dsar
ebr
oughtonst
ream ef
fi
cient
lyandcostef
fect
ivel
y.Al
bai
saj
ointvent
ure
bet
weenanumberofcompani
es.Thesear
e:

 Chevr
onU.
K.Li
mit
ed(
Oper
ator
)
 Conoco(
U.K.
)Li
mit
ed
 ConocoPet
rol
eum Li
mit
ed
 Fi
naPet
rol
eum Devel
opmentLi
mit
ed
 Pet
robr
asU.
K.Li
mit
ed
 SagaPet
rol
eum UKLi
mit
ed
 St
atoi
lExpl
orat
ion(
U.K.
)Li
mit
ed
 Uni
lonOi
lExpl
orat
ionsLi
mit
ed/
Bayt
rustOi
lExpl
orat
ionsLi
mit
ed
 Uni
onTexasPet
rol
eum Li
mit
ed-Asubsi
diar
yofAt
lant
icRi
chf
iel
dCompany
(
ARCO)
.

Chevr
on’
scur
rentshar
eint
hevent
urei
sjustover20%.Chevr
ondi
scover
edAl
bai
n
1984andwasgi
venGover
nmentappr
ovalf
ordevel
opmenti
nMay1991.Thef
iel
dfi
rst
camei
ntopr
oduct
ioni
nJanuar
y1994andhasest
imat
edr
ecover
abl
ereser
vesofupt
o
400mi
ll
ionbar
rel
sofoi
l.Theext
ract
edoi
lisst
oredf
orexpor
tinAl
ba’
sFl
oat
ing
St
orageUni
t(FSU)whi
chhasacapaci
tyof825,
000bar
rel
sofoi
l.Oi
list
henof
f-
loaded
i
ntooi
ltanker
swhi
chdel
ivert
onor
th-
westEur
opeanr
efi
ner
ies.

Dev
elopment

Eversi
ncei
tsdi
scover
yin1984,
itwascl
eart
hatdr
il
li
ngf
orAl
ba’
soi
lwasnotgoi
ngt
o
beeasy.Thegeol
ogyoft
hear
eawaspar
ti
cul
arl
ydi
ff
icul
tandt
het
otal750mi
ll
ion
bar
rel
sofcr
udeoi
lint
hef
iel
dwer
ehel
dinl
oose,
unconsol
idat
edsands.Tomake
mat
ter
swor
se,
ther
eser
voi
rwasl
ong,
thi
nandshal
low,
wit
hal
argevol
umeofwat
er
under
lyi
ngt
heoi
l.However
,near
ly400mi
l
lionbar
rel
soft
heor
igi
nalr
eser
voi
roi
lwer
e
deemedr
ecover
abl
e–f
air
lygoodbyi
ndust
ryst
andar
ds.

Wi
tht
hedr
il
li
ngt
echnol
ogyoft
heday,
onewayt
oreachi
ntobot
hthesout
her
nand
nor
ther
next
remi
ti
esoft
hef
iel
dwoul
dhavebeent
oconst
ructavastcent
ralpl
atf
orm-
andt
henf
aceuncer
tai
nti
esovert
heabi
l
ityt
opr
oducet
heheavy,
sluggi
shoi
lfr
om t
he
f
urt
her
mostpoi
nts.Chevr
ondeci
dedonaphaseddevel
opmentpr
ocessbecauseof
uncer
tai
nti
esaboutt
heper
for
manceoft
heoi
lreser
voi
randt
hepr
ocessi
ngofAl
ba
f
lui
ds.

PhaseI–Nor
ther
nPl
atf
ormandFSU

PhaseIi
nvol
vedt
hei
nst
all
ati
onofapl
atf
orm wi
thi
ntegr
atedpr
oduct
ion,
dri
ll
ingand
l
ivi
ngquar
ter
s,Al
baNor
ther
nPl
atf
orm(
ANP)
,overt
henor
ther
npar
toft
hef
iel
d,
t
oget
herwi
tht
heFSU.

ANPwasexpect
edt
opr
oduce227mi
ll
ionbar
rel
sofoi
lfr
om 20pr
oduct
ionwel
ls(
of
t
het
hen-
est
imat
edt
otal385mi
l
lionbar
rel
srecover
abl
efr
om t
hewhol
efi
eld)
.Theoi
l
wast
obeext
ract
edbyconvent
ionalangl
edandhor
izont
alwel
ls.Thi
swast
obe
suppor
tedbyt
heuseofsubmer
sibl
eel
ect
ri
calpumps.Meanwhi
leanumberofhi
ghl
y
devi
ated(
i.
e.atahi
ghangl
efr
om ver
ti
cal
)wel
lsar
eusedt
oinj
ectwat
erf
rom t
he
pl
atf
ormt
omai
ntai
nthepr
essur
eint
her
eser
voi
randhel
pdr
ivet
hecr
udeoi
ltot
he
sur
face.

Chevr
on’
sini
ti
alpl
anwast
ocompl
ementt
heNor
ther
nPl
atf
orm wi
thaSout
her
n
Pl
atf
orm whi
chwoul
dbei
nst
all
edf
iveyear
slat
er.Byoper
ati
ngf
rom t
wopl
atf
ormsi
t
woul
dbepossi
blet
oreducet
heangl
eoft
hewel
lsandt
hiswoul
dreducecost
s.
Technol
ogyatt
het
imewoul
d,anyway,
li
mitt
hedr
il
li
ngr
adi
ust
oonl
y9,
500f
eet(
under
t
womi
les)
.

Bui
l
dingani
nter
-di
sci
pli
nar
yteam

I
twasatt
hist
imet
hatChevr
ondeci
dedt
obui
ldasmal
lint
erdi
sci
pli
nar
yteam wi
tht
he
br
ieft
otakeat
hor
oughl
ookatt
heavai
labl
eopt
ions.Thi
sappr
oachwasconsi
stent
wi
tht
henewl
yadopt
edChevr
onPr
ojectDevel
opmentandExecut
ionPr
ocess(
CPDEP)
.
(
SeeFi
g3over
leaf
).Thet
eam woul
dpr
ovi
deChevr
onwi
thacr
eat
iveappr
oach–i
t
woul
dnotsi
mpl
ypl
oughaheadwi
thpr
e-det
ermi
nedi
deas.

Thet
eam off
ivewasgi
venanopenbr
ief-t
oexami
neal
ltheavai
labl
eopt
ions.The
appr
oachadopt
edbyt
het
eam wasknownasDeci
sionRi
skAnal
ysi
s.Thi
sisa
met
hodol
ogyt
hathel
pst
omakedeci
sionsi
nuncer
tai
ncondi
ti
onsbyt
aki
ngavi
ewof
t
hepr
obabi
li
sti
cout
comes.I
nsi
mpl
eter
ms,
thi
sinvol
vesset
ti
ngoutdeci
siont
rees
(
seeFi
g2)wi
thal
lther
isksf
oreachal
ter
nat
ivedeci
sion.

Thei
mpor
tanceofeachdeci
sioni
sder
ivedf
rom t
hei
mpacteachvar
iabl
ehasont
he
successmeasur
e(e.
g.NetPr
esentVal
ue)
.Thi
sisshowni
nthe‘
Tor
nado’
diagr
am
bel
ow 
(Fi
g1)
.Thef
orecast
edpr
iceofoi
ltypi
cal
lycomesoutont
op.Theser
isksar
eset
outasmat
hemat
icalpr
obabi
li
ti
es.Thi
snewwayofor
gani
singi
snowbei
ngadopt
edby
Chevr
onwor
ld-
wideandi
nvol
vesbr
ingi
ngt
oget
heral
lthedi
sci
pli
nesi
nvol
vedi
na
par
ti
cul
arpr
ojectatt
hesamet
imeandempower
ingt
hem t
oeval
uat
eawi
der
angeof
devel
opmentopt
ions.Thi
scont
rast
swi
tht
het
radi
ti
onalwayofwor
kingwhi
chwoul
d
havebeenonf
unct
ionall
ines,
begi
nni
ngwi
tht
hegeol
ogi
sts,
thenmovi
ngt
hrought
he
r
eser
voi
rengi
neer
stof
aci
li
ti
esandpr
ocessengi
neer
sandf
inal
lyoper
ati
ons.

Thechangi
ngnat
ureofPhaseI
I

PhaseI
Ioft
heAl
bapr
ojectcoul
dhavei
nvol
vedbui
ldi
ngt
heSout
her
nPl
atf
orm.
However
,wor
kcar
ri
edoutbyt
hepr
ojectt
eam usi
ngDeci
sionRi
skAnal
ysi
stechni
ques
i
ndi
cat
edt
hatt
her
ewasar
angeofot
heropt
ionst
hatwer
ewor
thconsi
der
ing.I
nan
i
ndust
ryi
nwhi
cht
echnol
ogyi
sconst
ant
lychangi
ng,
itwasal
socl
eart
hatnew
appr
oacheswoul
dpr
esentt
hemsel
vesasvi
abl
eal
ter
nat
ivesi
nthecour
seoft
ime.

Aspr
eadsheet
-basedcomput
ermodelhasbeencent
ralt
othepr
ocessusedf
ort
he
Al
baPhaseI
Ist
udi
es.Thi
senabl
edt
het
eam t
osi
mul
atet
her
angeofout
comesf
or
eachoft
hedi
ff
erentdevel
opmentopt
ions-f
rom i
nst
all
i
ngasecondpl
atf
ormt
odoi
ng
not
hing.I
nbet
weent
heset
woext
remesl
ayahostofi
mponder
abl
es.Coul
dthe
sout
her
nar
eabeaccessedvi
asub-
seawel
ls,
dri
ll
edbyasemi
-submer
sibl
eri
gand
t
hent
iedbackbypi
pel
inet
otheNor
ther
nPl
atf
orm et
c?

Thet
eam eval
uat
edmanyt
echni
calsol
uti
onsi
nsear
choft
hesol
uti
onwhi
chwoul
d
addgr
eat
estval
uet
oAl
ba’
ssecondphasedevel
opment
.Thi
swasachi
evedby
gr
oupi
ngt
hem i
ntoasmal
lnumberofbasi
cdevel
opmentscenar
iosr
epr
esent
inga
wi
der
angeofdi
ff
erenti
nvest
mentandbusi
nessst
rat
egi
es.Al
loft
heseneededt
obe
wei
ghedupt
ofi
ndoutt
heopt
imalsol
uti
on.Af
urt
herpr
obl
em att
hist
imewast
hatt
he
pr
iceofoi
lwasatal
owl
evelwhi
chmeantt
hatcer
tai
nopt
ionswoul
dhavebeen
uneconomi
c.However
,devel
opment
sint
echnol
ogymeantt
hati
twoul
dbef
easi
blef
or
Chevr
ont
oconsi
derdr
il
li
ngwel
lsi
nthesout
her
nar
eaoft
hef
iel
dfr
om t
heexi
sti
ng
Nor
ther
nPl
atf
orm,
usi
ngext
endedr
eachdr
il
li
ng(
ERD)t
echni
ques.
 ERDi
sthesi
ngl
e,mostsi
gni
fi
cantadvancei
ntechnol
ogyt
hathasshapedt
het
hinki
ng
oft
heAl
baPhaseI
Iteam (
whi
chhadgr
ownt
ofi
ft
eenpeopl
ewi
thcompl
ement
aryski
ll
s
i
npet
rol
eum engi
neer
ing,
geol
ogy,
faci
l
iti
esdesi
gn,
product
ionandeconomi
cs)
.As
ERDhasdevel
oped,
sohast
hedi
stanceoverwhi
chi
tcanoper
ate,
enabl
ingmor
eoi
lto
beaccessedf
rom t
hesamepl
atf
orm.

Chev
ron'
spr
ojectdev
elopmentandex
ecut
ionpr
ocess

Thepr
ocesswhi
chChevr
onhascr
eat
edf
orpr
ojectdevel
opmentandexecut
ioni
sset
outi
nthei
ll
ust
rat
ionbel
ow.Chevr
onwasabl
etouset
hisappr
oachi
nthedevel
opment
ofPhaseI
Ioft
heAl
baf
iel
d.I
nanal
ysi
ngt
hisphase,
thepr
ojectt
eam wasabl
eto
nar
rowdownar
angeofal
ter
nat
ivesi
ntoanopt
imum sol
uti
on:

 21opt
ionswer
eident
if
iedf
orf
urt
herst
udy
 4f
ail
edongr
oundsoft
echni
calf
easi
bil
it
y
 9wer
efavour
ed
 4f
ail
edt
heeconomi
chur
dle
 5r
emai
nedf
orf
urt
herst
udy,
incl
udi
ngaf
loat
ingpr
oduct
ionvesselandbui
ldi
nga
sub-
seapr
oduct
ioncent
re.

Af
terf
urt
heranal
ysi
s,t
hef
inalopt
ionsel
ect
ionwasbet
weenupgr
adi
ngt
heor
igi
nal
pl
atf
orm orbui
ldi
ngasecond,
bri
dge-
li
nked,
plat
for
mtot
heNor
ther
nPl
atf
orm.The
chosenopt
ionwasa‘
ret
rof
it
’toupgr
adet
heor
igi
nalpl
atf
ormt
ohandl
eincr
eased
pr
oduct
ion.

PhaseI
Iwasdi
videdi
ntot
wost
ages,
IIaandI
Ib,
inor
dert
oint
roducenewpl
atf
orm
f
aci
li
ti
es.PhaseI
Iaoft
heAl
bapr
ojecti
nvol
vedi
nst
all
inganew300t
onnepr
oduct
ion
modul
e.Thi
swascar
ri
edouti
nJul
y1996.Newt
echnol
ogi
eswer
eempl
oyedi
ncl
udi
ng
t
heut
il
isat
ionofanERDpr
ogr
amme,
thef
ir
stt
imet
hatsucht
echnol
ogyhadbeenused
i
ntheNor
thSea.ERDenabl
est
hef
urt
hestr
eachesoft
hef
iel
dtobet
appedwi
thsome
wel
l
snear
ing5mi
lesi
nlengt
h.PhaseI
Iaoft
hepr
ojecti
ncr
easedoi
lhandl
ingcapaci
ty
f
rom 70,
000t
o100,
000bar
rel
sperday.

PhaseI
Ibi
spl
annedf
orcompl
eti
oni
nDecember1998.Thi
swi
llsust
ainpr
oduct
ion
 l
evel
sandl
essent
her
ateofdecl
inebyi
ncr
easi
ngf
lui
dhandl
ingcapaci
tyf
rom 240,
000
bar
rel
sto390,
000bar
rel
sperday.Thi
sphasei
nvol
vesaddi
ngaddi
ti
onalmodul
est
o
t
heNor
ther
nPl
atf
orm.(
Seepi
ctur
ebel
owandr
ight
).I
tal
soi
ncl
udesi
mpr
ovement
sin
t
het
echnol
ogyempl
oyedt
oensur
ethemi
nimi
sat
ionofenvi
ronment
alpr
obl
ems.The
wat
erwhi
chi
spumpedi
ntot
hewel
ltopusht
heoi
loutcomesbackmi
xedwi
thoi
l,
in
addi
ti
ont
othewat
ert
hatnat
ural
l
yoccur
sint
her
eser
voi
r.Thesepar
ati
onoft
heoi
land
wat
eri
sacr
it
icalr
equi
rementandadi
ff
icul
ttask,
especi
all
ywi
thheavi
ercr
udeoi
lli
ke
Al
ba’
s.I
tisaccompl
ishedi
nsever
alst
agesi
nthepl
atf
ormf
aci
li
ti
est
oensur
ethatt
he
wat
erf
ordi
sposali
senvi
ronment
all
ysaf
e.

Assessi
ngr
isk

Ri
skassessmenti
sakeyt
oef
fect
ivebusi
nessdeci
sion-
maki
ngf
oranyl
argebusi
ness
or
gani
sat
ion.I
nassessi
ngr
isksassoci
atedwi
thoi
lpr
oduct
ion,
ther
ear
eanumberof
var
iabl
est
hatar
econt
rol
labl
eandt
her
efor
erangesofout
comesar
eeasi
ert
oest
imat
e.

Forexampl
e,t
hecont
rol
labl
eri
sksofenhanci
nganoi
lpr
oduct
ionpl
atf
ormi
ncl
ude:
lTechni
calr
isks-suchast
hecal
cul
ati
onsoft
heper
cent
ageofoi
lrecover
yofa
par
ti
cul
ar
di
scover
y,t
heext
entoft
hef
iel
det
c.Ofcour
se,
probl
emsar
eboundt
ooccuri
noi
l
ext
ract
ion
whi
chmake100%accur
atepr
edi
cti
onsi
mpossi
ble.

 Fi
nanci
alr
isks-suchast
hecostofbor
rowi
ngmoney,
ther
angei
nsi
zeofi
nvest
ment
s,t
he
t
imet
akent
opaybacket
c.ar
eal
sor
elat
ivel
ypr
edi
ctabl
eal
thoughf
act
orssuchasi
nter
est
r
atesandexchanger
atesf
luct
uat
eovert
ime.Set
ti
ngcl
earbudgett
arget
sal
lowsf
ora
degr
eeofr
iskmanagementt
obei
mpl
ement
ed.
 Schedul
eri
sks-i
tisessent
ial
indevel
opi
ngnewpr
oject
stokeept
oschedul
e.Del
aysl
ead
t
omanyaddi
ti
onalcost
sandpr
obl
ems.

Lar
gei
nter
nat
ionalor
gani
sat
ionsmi
nimi
secont
rol
labl
eri
sksbyempl
oyi
ngt
opqual
it
y
engi
neer
s,f
inanci
alexper
ts,
proj
ectpl
anner
sandeconomi
sts.Ther
ear
e,however
,a
numberofr
iskst
hatar
euncont
rol
labl
eandt
heser
equi
recar
efulmoni
tor
ing.Onesuch
r
iski
stheoi
lpr
icesetbyt
hegl
obalmar
ketwhi
chcanf
luct
uat
edr
amat
ical
ly.Aswe
haveseen,
themar
ketpr
icei
soneoft
hemosti
mpor
tantf
act
orsi
nDeci
sionRi
sk
Anal
ysi
s.Lowpr
iceswi
ll
meant
hatmar
ginaldevel
opmentpr
oject
sbecomeunvi
abl
e.
Oi
lcompani
est
her
efor
eengagei
ncar
eful
scenar
iopl
anni
ng,
whi
chset
soutanumber
ofscenar
iosf
ordi
ff
erentpossi
bleoi
lpr
icesi
nthef
utur
e.Ont
hebasi
soft
hese
pr
edi
cti
ons,
theyar
eabl
etodeci
dewhet
heri
tiswor
thpr
oceedi
ngwi
thnewpr
oject
s.

I
ndevel
opi
ngt
heAl
baf
iel
d,i
thasbeenessent
ialt
oconsi
dert
hedi
sti
nct
ivef
eat
uresof
t
heoi
lit
sel
f.Al
baoi
lhasahi
ghspeci
fi
cgr
avi
ty(
i.
e.heavy)andaci
dit
yandt
her
efor
e
cost
smor
etor
efi
ne.Asar
esul
t,i
tsmar
ketpr
icei
slower
.Insummar
y,t
he
i
nter
disci
pli
nar
yteam f
oundamor
eeconomi
calappr
oacht
opr
oduci
ngAl
ba’
soi
lthan
i
nst
all
ingasecond,
ful
lyequi
ppedpl
atf
orm.Bysuccessf
ull
yident
if
yingandmi
nimi
sing
t
her
isksassoci
atedwi
thdevel
opi
ngt
hef
iel
d,pr
oduct
ionhasbeenaccel
erat
edand
cost
sreduced,
enhanci
ngt
heover
allval
ueoft
hef
iel
d.