Case Study: University of North Dakota achieves low-contamination water sampling without formation plugging with SLB’s Saturn 3D Radial Probe

Saturn 3D Radial Probe Successfully Samples Fluid by Preventing Unconsolidated Reservoir Plugging

SLB worked with the University of North Dakota’s Energy & Environmental Research Center on a water sampling challenge in an unconsolidated reservoir, where a conventional formation tester probe caused plugging after about 30 minutes of pumping and prevented samples from being collected at multiple stations. The team needed a way to sample permeable formation water without mobilizing fine mud particles that were clogging the reservoir.

SLB deployed the Saturn 3D radial probe, which uses a large flow area and drain assembly to support the formation while reducing fluid velocity in the pore space. This prevented plugging, maintained uniform flowing pressure, and enabled low-contamination water samples to be collected successfully at all six stations, whereas the earlier conventional probe failed at nine stations.

University of North Dakota