The drilling of minimum-cost development wells in the Gulf of Thailand (GOT) requires. a continuous-improvement based drilling philosophy., Adherence to this philosophy has yielded fast drilling times. This performance is partly the result, of the ability to plan and drill entire 12- to,16-well platforms instead of "one-off" wells, a concept that has been fundamental to building efficiency. To drill minimum-cost wells, key contractors and service companies must be aligned:with the common goal of efficient and safe operations. Drilling rigs, tools, and equipment are constantly upgraded and redesigned,to be fit-for-purpose for the conditions encountered in the GOT.