Simplicity

In the preface to his second book Dake writes;

“Given these basic limitations, the only approach to the subject must be one of simplicity…..In fact the basic tenet of science: Occam’s Razor, applies to reservoir engineering to a greater extent than for most physical sciences – that if there are two ways to account for a physical phenomenon, it is the simpler that is the most useful.”

 But reading on its clear he believes you have to be clever to be simple;

“It is therefore, frequently stressed in the text to adopt the simpliest physical method possible in tackling all forms of reservoir engineering, although this must not be over done. Albert Einstein appears to have summed up the situation in a concise manner:

‘Let us do everything as simply as possible, but then, not more simply than that’ “

Practice – p5

It takes intelligence and understanding to know when to stop simplifying. And, Dake warns that some aspects of reservoir engineering cannot be simplified;

“…the efficiency of the (water drive) process is governed by three physical factors namely;

-          mobility ratio (M)

-          (reservoir) heterogeneity

-          Gravity

…heterogeneity and gravity are closely interrelated and consideration of their combined influence on water drive efficiency is mandatory in reservoir sections of finite thickness”

Practice p 366