Incremental Cases in PHDWin

What is an Incremental Case?

An incremental case is a case whose report output is automatically subtracted from that
of a base case (a case designated to be the subtrahend, or amount subtracted) in
reports. While an incremental link can be created between any two cases in the project,
they are typically created by two cases that are representing the same well under
different conditions. The base case is the case to which the incremental case is linked.
The incremental case acts as a normal case, and when run, gives you its economics as
normal. Upon running economics, the base case is subtracted from this incremental
case, resulting in reports that represent the difference between the two cases. When an
incremental case is created, it is dynamically linked to the base case. When viewing the
graph on an incremental, you are able to see but not affect the base case’s projections.
You can make any desired changes to the Incremental projection.

These cases are denoted with a special icon in the Case List:

What is an Incremental Case? 1

 Incremental Cases in PHDWin

Creating an Incremental Case in PHDWin

Incremental leases can be created one of two ways. First, an incremental case can be
created inside the Incremental Tree. The incremental tree window can be opened from
Editor > Incremental Tree on the Main Menu.

Creating Incremental Cases using the Incremental Tree

1. Go to Editor > Incremental Tree from the main menu.

2. Click Select to open/activate the Case List window.
3. Drag and drop cases to be linked into the Incremental Tree window.
4. Drag the recompletion (dependent) case on top of the base case in the Incremental
window. Your cursor then turns into a large black arrow pointing down indicating that
if the mouse button is released, the cases will be linked.

5. The incremental is indented below the base case and displays the icon next to
the case, confirming that it is an incremental case, and the link is created.

Creating Incremental Cases using the Case List

In addition to the Incremental Tree, incremental cases can be created and linked
through the Case List window. Activate the case you want to be the base case, then
click the button at the top of the case list window. A program prompt (see next page
for description of checkboxes) will be displayed indicating that a new case will be
created as an increment to the currently selected case. This new case is listed in the
cast list with the icon next to the case name. It may also have {incr} appended to
the case name.

Creating an Incremental Case in PHDWin 2

 Incremental Cases in PHDWin

Incremental Case Creation Options

Options selected in this prompt will

instruct PHDWin what elements top copy
from the base case to the incremental
case.

Case Name: Fill in as desired. {incr} is

automatically appended to the case name.
Although it is optional, this tag and can be
useful for filtering/sorting purposes.

Highlighted Section: Use these

checkboxes to select feature(s) of the
base case that you want copied to the
incremental case.

Projections (Start Date only):The maj or phase starting date for the incremental case
is locked to the base case maj or phase starting date. All other time-based projections
on the incremental case are adjusted so that they keep their position relative to the Maj
or Phase date.
This option is mutually exclusive from the " Projections (all)" option.
• Several options on the Global Editor Projection Tab (Apply Curve Fit , Shift Start
Date, Truncate Start Date, and Force Start Date) cannot be applied to the
incremental case when this option is selected.
• Changing the Start Date of the base case in the Active archive affects only the
projections in the Active archive for the incremental case.

Incremental Case Creation Options 3

 Incremental Cases in PHDWin

Copy Active Archive (no Auto-Update): This copies the Active Archive for the
incremental case. Note that there is no auto-update feature.
• A base case can only have one incremental case. The following options are
useful when doing a mass creation of incremental cases. If the case selected is
already a base case, several options are presented:
o Create a new linked case (prior case link is broken): This breaks the link
between the base case and the older incremental case and creases a new
link between the base case and the soon-to-be created incremental case.
o Do not create a new linked case: If a selected case does have an
incremental, that base/incremental case pair is left alone; a new
incremental case is not created. However, for the base cases that do not
have incrementals, then incremental cases are created.
o Keep Class & Category Same as Base Case: Keeps the same reserve
class and reserve category as the base case. If this is left unchecked,
reserve class and category will be assigned to default setting.

Incremental Case Creation Options 4

 Incremental Cases in PHDWin

View Incremental Cases on the Graph

After an incremental case is defined, you can view both the incremental and base case
on a single graph for comparison.

After creating an incremental case:

1. Double click the incremental case in the Case List to activate the case.
2. Select Graphs > Display from the main menu.
3. Projections from both cases are shown and labeled on the graph.

Note: You can only adjust the projections for the incremental case on this graph.
To adjust the projections for the base case, you must first activate the base case.

View Incremental Cases on the Graph 5