Decline Curve in E&P companies for oil and gas

Does anybody know how exactly model a decline curve in the oil and gas industry to get estimate ultimate recovery (EUR). Usually companies cite initial production number as either a 30 day of average production rate or a 24-hour average production rate. But if I build an ARPS model using the same b-factor and initial decline parameter using these two initial production numbers, I could end up with completely different EURs. Does anybody know how to reconcile this situation?

4 Comments
 

Welcome to the vagaries of E&P modeling.

My approach is to iteratively solve for the b-factor and initial decline terms that are implied by company guidance. E.g, when the company tell you that their wells 24-hr IP at X MMcfe/d and the first year decline is Y%, then you can effectively solve for the paramaters in the hyperbolic decline function that produce this curve.

Of course, that doesn't mean that the curve that the company is giving you is in any way realistic...

 

Aut reprehenderit voluptatem necessitatibus minus. Quisquam aspernatur facilis reiciendis quia fugit. Quia voluptas quos eaque odit.

Soluta iusto est et quia aperiam. Incidunt et repellat voluptas expedita enim unde recusandae. Perspiciatis id eveniet reiciendis est distinctio accusamus amet est.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”