Deciding the drilling sequence for a multi-year rig portfolio is one of the most critical planning challenges in upstream. Each project competes for scarce rig time, and the “right” sequence depends on multiple, often conflicting drivers: exploration commitments, new oil and gas volumes, cost efficiency, project readiness, fiscal agreements, and security of supply.

Traditionally, these decisions were dominated by opinion and manual spreadsheets. Meetings often stalled in debate, with limited ability to test scenarios or understand the full trade-offs. The result: frustration, inefficiency, and uncertainty over whether the agreed sequence was the best one.