Production estimates are readily available to the operators of the well. Before casing pipe is purchased and set, a pump is inserted, a unit is moved in, ect.. they first test the well.
Before a company undergoes these expenses, they test the well by pumping from the top for a period of hours from a smaller diameter pipe.
A fairly accurate estimate of how much oil and gas will be produced per day from this. Please let me know if you have any other questions or corrections.