Fundamentals of Reservoir Engineering (L.P. Dake).pdf

In the process of illustrating the primary functions of a reservoir engineer, namely, the
estimation of hydrocarbons in place, the calculation of a recovery factor and the
attachment of a time scale to the recovery; this chapter introduces many of the
fundamental concepts in reservoir engineering.
The description of the calculation of oil in place concentrates largely on the
determination of fluid pressure regimes and the problem of locating fluid contacts in the
reservoir. Primary recovery is described in general terms by considering the
significance of the isothermal compressibilities of the reservoir fluids; while the
determination of the recovery factor and attachment of a time scale are illustrated by
describing volumetric gas reservoir engineering. The chapter finishes with a brief
quantitative account of the phase behaviour of multi-component hydrocarbon systems.