Case Study: West Africa Operating Company achieves 90% reduction in probe seal failures with SLB WellSKATE conveyance accessories

WellSKATE Conveyance Accessories Decrease Probe Seal Failures by 90% West Africa

SLB worked with West Africa Operating Company, an operator facing difficult pressure measurement and fluid sampling in 12¼-in deviated boreholes. The company’s MDT modular dynamic formation tester was struggling to reach total depth in up to 33° deviation, with high friction, one toolstring lost in hole, and probe seal failures occurring about 30% of the time.

SLB installed three WellSKATE low-friction conveyance accessories close to the MDT probe to reduce drag and maintain tool orientation and standoff. This lowered running tension from about 10,000 lbf to 8,500 lbf, helped the tool reach total depth, kept the probe facing the ideal direction across 80 stations, and cut seal failures by more than 90% to just one lost seal.