The completion design process in horizontal, multi-stage wells has become a statistical evaluation process, rather than an engineering-based process. This presentation shows an alternative approach using an engineering approach to define reservoir properties and fracture treatment effectiveness.  With this knowledge in hand, the engineer can then determine the “optimum” completion design for future wells. This understanding can be achieved much quicker and for much less money than the cost to drill the number of wells necessary to make statistical analysis meaningful.  The results and conclusions will run contrary to the direction most unconventional completion designs have been evolving over the past ten years. A much greater emphasis on achieving increased effective lengths will be demonstrated and that increased stage count can prove detrimental to economic success. Processes presented will prove valuable for smaller operators that do not have the large well counts required to achieve a meaningful statistical evaluation.