Shell ltd is trying to decide whether or not to drill for oil on a particular site
Question:
Shell ltd is trying to decide whether or not to drill for oil on a particular site in North Eastern Kenya. The Chief Engineer has assessed the probabilities that there will be oil as follow, based on past experience. Oil 0.2 No oil 0.8 It is possible for Shell ltd to hire a firm of international consultants to carry out a complete survey of the site. Shell ltd has used the firm many times before and has made the following estimates: If there really is oil, then there is a 95% chance that the report will be favourable. If there is no oil then there is only a 10% chance that the report will indicate that there is oil. The following additional information is also provided: The cost of drilling is Sh.10 million. The value of the benefits if oil is found is Sh.70 million The cost of obtaining information is Sh.3 million.
Required:
Advise the company on whether to acquire additional information from the consultants
Compute the value of imperfect information.
Data Analysis and Decision Making
ISBN: 978-0538476126
4th edition
Authors: Christian Albright, Wayne Winston, Christopher Zappe