Optimal development of the North Sea's oil fields - the reply

We consider that Wall et al's technical criticisms of our monograph are irrelevant or ill-confused. Their volumetric analytic method is inadequate and their approach to the platform/wells location question conflicts with oil industry views. On the economic aspects, Wall et al avoid the central issue we considered - on how to resolve company-government conflict - and instead take up an issue - on the overall speed of North Sea development - which we did not discuss. We show, moreover, how this criticism of our study is largely unsubstantiated personal opinion and, as such, unworthy of consideration, even if many of Wall et al's arguments were not erroneous.