Resumen del autor, extraido del trabajo. Drilling operations are notorious for suffering from significant over-runs in both cost and schedule. These characteristics are symptomatic of defective project management. BP Amoco has acquired a unique set of project management tools and applied them to their drilling campaigns of 1998 and 1999. The results show that ambitious project schedules can be achieved and where problems occur, recovery is both rapid and effective. Risk assessment is a key thread that runs through, from the high level risks in a conceptual design to the details of day to day execution. It is tightly linked to the process for estimating well times and contingency costs and provides a means of communicating risks to business delivery upwards to management. A correct set of well objectives and basis of design is the foundation of an effective detailed planning phase involving a large team of contractors. Key to the success of planning and execution is the integration of the service suppliers and drilling contractor into a comprehensive planning effort. Standard project management techniques are combined with the structuring of the organisation round delivery of key elements of the well to ensure that a large project team is properly focused on delivering a world class operational target. Detailed planning ensures flawless operation and efficient recovery from setbacks. The rig team is critical to getting the detail right. Rigorous post analysis is essential to ensure that lessons learned, not only about the technical aspects of the well, but also the process, are fed back into the planning of future operations.