Causes and Warning Signs of

Kicks
ExxonMobil Development Company
Norman Archibald
International Drilling Schools

Kick Warning1 Signs

Definition of a Kick
A Kick is an unwanted influx of formation
fluids into the wellbore.

Kick Warning2 Signs

Conditions for a Kick

Two conditions must be present:
The formation pressure must be greater
than the wellbore pressure at the point of
the influx.
The formation must have permeability or
contain fractures/channels to allow flow
into the wellbore.
Kick Warning3 Signs

Definition of a Blowout
The uncontrolled flow of formation fluids
from the wellbore.
Unless detected and corrected, a kick will
usually lead to a blowout.

Kick Warning4 Signs

Causes of Kicks
Failure to keep the hole full
Swabbing - Tripping or making a connection
Lost Circulation
Insufficient mud weight or density
Abnormally pressured formations
Surge Pressure - Tripping
Kick Warning5 Signs

Secondary Causes of Kicks

Failure of differential cement equipment
Improper control during a drill stem test
Improper control while running casing
Improper control while performing wireline
operations
Improper control nippling up / down the BOPs
Drilling into an adjacent well bore
Kick Warning6 Signs

How does a Driller know if

there is a kick in the well?

Kick? or No Kick?
Kick Warning7 Signs

Kick Warning Signs

Gain / Loss in Pit Volume

Flow rate increase

Hole Not Taking Correct Amount of Mud on
a Trip
ROP changes - Drilling Breaks
Pump Pressure Decrease /Pump Speed
Increase
Trip, Connection or Background Gas
Kick Warning8 Signs

Kick Warning Signs

Gas Cut Mud

Water Cut Mud / Chloride Increase

Sloughing Shale
Change in Mud Properties - Cuttings
Well Flows with Pump Off - Ballooning?
Shale Density change
Mud Temperature increase
Kick Warning9 Signs

Tools for kick detection

Know what the hole is doing at all
times.
Basic Tools
Flo-Sho Indicator
Gas detector
Pit Volume Totalizer (PVT)
Trip Tank
Kick Warning10Signs