Schlumberger’s Saturn 3D radial probe is the newest module for its MDT modular formation dynamics tester. The Saturn probe provides pressure measurements and fluid samples where they were not previously possible due to reservoir conditions.
The Saturn probe is comprised of four elliptical suction probes mounted at 90° intervals circumferentially around the tool; according to Schlumberger, this provides the largest surface flow area of any probe in the industry, over 500 times that of a standard probe.
Analyzing reservoirs from more than 85 tool settings, the Saturn probe has been run in South America, Africa and the Middle East in environments ranging from onshore to deepwater. In Mexico, the Saturn probe successfully sampled fluids as low as 7°API gravity from unconsolidated formations with unconfined compressive strength as low as 300psi, which would have been difficult using conventional probes. In the Middle East, the Saturn probe sampled fluid in formations with mobility less than 2mD/cP, enabling the customer to accurately identify the location of the hydrocarbon-water contact point.