In view of petroleum exploration would usually be made by stages

petroleum exploration stage can be divided into basin selection

play selection and trap or prospect selection three decision phases

each with different characters

goals

principles and methods. Prospect exploration decision is to make a short-term and phasic tactical decision

without considering earlier exploration expenditures and later development expenditures

so as to avoid falling into previous redundant circumstances without operability. Prospect exploration decision-making takes selection of the best traps or prospects as the goal

and takes obtaining maximum reserves with minimum risk and cost as the principle. If exploration investment is given

a batch of prospects with the lowest exploration risk and largest reserves will be screened out from the selected prospects through determination of the exploration investment limits

comprehensive ranking of the prospects and analysis of exploratory drilling risk of the prospects. Alternatively

if a reserves target is given

prospects with the lowest exploration risk and exploration cost will be selected as the next drilling targets. Ten prospects that are located in Mianzhu-Yanting central uplift zone

Xiongpo fault-folded belt in Longquanshan area

Yazihe-Pingluoba buried fault-folded belt and Shi-fang-Qionglai central synclinal zone are selected as the drilling targets in current exploration phase

by using the concept and method of prospect exploration decision-making and in combination with the actual data in the western depression of Sichuan basin.