The Science of Reservoir Engineering

“It is only through having a complete understanding of the physics that the engineer can hope to appreciate and solve complex reservoir engineering problems in a practical manner”

Fundamentals – Preface

“Reservoir engineering is a complex subject for two reasons. In the first place we never see enough of the reservoirs we are trying to describe….The second problem is that even having selected a sensible mathematical model there are never enough equations to solve for the number of unknowns involved”

He continues….

“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.”

Practice – Preface

But Dake's view on simplicity was not simplistic.....more on Simplicity