WISR Ltd V.WZR

RE: Drilling operations and testing.

[godfrogger]

I disagree on several of your points.

Wildcat exploration wells often target and encounter multiple payzones, and they can be and are saved up and tested all together at the end of the well.  The zones are isolated for testing using packers in the testing tool suite.  The driller does not do this, rather you have a consulting firm (ie. Schlumberger) do it. 
The hole is logged and then cased before this occurs, and the casing is perforated at the identified horizons one by one as you go through isolating and testing the multiple payzones.

Depending on the hole size and casing program you can and often do produce from the exploration well eventually. Long before you begin drilling development wells (production wells as you call them) you must drill appraisel wells to delineate your reservoir.  Flow rates are informative, and you alternate choke and shut-in times to get a sense of the bigger picture, but you need to establish the size of your pool by checking for consistent oil water contacts on the outside perimeter of your trap/reservoir.  Usually you will have an outside auditor estimate your reserves once you've had several appraisel wells drilled (ie. RPS Energy). 
There is no way 'the bean counters' can determine the length of production ('in years and months') from one discovery well, and you need to establish the commerciality of the field before you can start considering production facilities.

Sorry to split hairs, but your information is not accurate. It is incorrect to assume that they have already tested several of the zones as that is very unlikely.  Of course there is the possibility WZR is doing things differently, I dont have a copy of their well plan or field plans....

If you have colleagues working in the area, please ask them to describe the flare which was lit for well control after the high pressure zone was encountered.  And again, sorry to be so contrary.