Causes of Kicks

• Insufficient density of drilling fluids, brines, cements, etc. –

Causes insufficient hydrostatic pressure and allows well String Safety Valve
flow. Trip
Tank
• Abnormal Pressure – encountered when drilling a BOP
formation; could be abnormally high or abnormally low. Stack
Choke Manifold
Mud Pits
Mud Pumps
• Improper Hole Fill-up During Trips – Pulling out of the hole
(POOH) removes volume and allows fluid level to fall. The
Kill Line
well must be properly full or hydrostatic pressure will be
lost. When the crew runs in the hole (RIH), they have to
watch for proper displacement of fluid. (The proper amount
must spill out.) Gas Separator

• Loss of Circulation – As a formation is drilled it absorbs the

drilling fluid because the mud hydrostatic pressure is higher
than formation pressure causing the fluid level in the hole to
drop and another gas or oil pressured formation to “kick”. Salt
Salt
• Swabbing effect of pulling pipe – Pulling out of the hole too
fast can cause the well to “kick”.
• Surging effect – Running in the hole too fast can break down Gas Gas
a formation and cause a well to “kick”.
• Annular gas flow after cementing – happens when the BOPs
are nippled down before the cement hardens.

Page 1
 Causes of Kicks
Formation Pressures

Formation Pressures

NORMAL FP - force generated by a full column of naturally occurring fluid.

ABNORMAL FP - forces greater than normal, because of a permeability trap (i.e., trapped pressure). Kick Zones.
SUBNORMAL FP - forces less than normal, because of fluid losses. Lost Circulation Zones.

PETROLEUM RESERVIOR - must have Hydrocarbons, porosity, permeability, and pressure.

Page 2
 Kicks
Abnormal Formation Pressure
Geolograph tracks ROP
Abnormal Pressure – Drilling Signs
Warning Signs
 Watch for:
 Increase ROP
 Increase in pump pressures
 Increased torque and drag
 Fill on connections and back flow
Pump  Increase in gas units
Pressure  Pressured shale over screens
Fluctuations  Increase in mud temperature
 Change in mud properties
Cuttings can be a Warning!  Long, splintery shale cuttings over shaker
screens.
 Abnormal Pressures related to:
 Drilling through faults
Geopressured Front Side  Geopressured shales
Shale  Salt domes
 Formation dipping
Splintery  Massive sand beds

Concave
Shale Shaker

Page 3
 Kicks
Loss of Circulation While Tripping and Drilling

Ignoring Warning Signs can lead to

Trip Tank a “kick”!!
will give an
indication  Watch for:
when  Decrease in flow returns
tripping.  Decrease in pit levels
 Loss of pump pressures
Lost Circulation can Occur  Gain in spm (pump rate)
 Less flow returns/pit level
During Drilling or Tripping  Lithology changes
 Pore pressure regressions
 Excessive overbalance
 Contributing Factors that lead to lost circulation:
 Fractured/faulted formations
 Depleted zones
 Excessive pipe speed when running in hole

Page 4
 Kicks
Insufficient Mud Weight

Using a Mud Balance to Measure Mud Weight Signs if the Mud Weight is
not Sufficient

 Watch for:
 Increase in standpipe pressure.
 Excessive backflow on connections.
 Increase in gas units
 Light mud weight
Measuring  Change in mud properties
density of the  Contributing Factors the could be overlooked:
 Degasser malfunctioning
mud.  Faulty mud scales
 Light weight pills or sweeps
 Low quality control of mud properties

Density is simply a measure of the weight of the fluid

according to a certain volume, such as pounds per gallon.
The density of drilling fluids are most often determined with
the use of a mud balance.

WATCH FOR MUD WEIGHT CHANGES

Page 5
 Fluids

Rotary Hose
Well Control Functions of Drilling
Swivel Standpipe or
Fluids
Circulating Pressure • Provides for weight and density for well control.
• Provides well information as it comes out of the well.
Kelly or Topdrive
• Provides hydraulic horsepower to the bit.

BOP
Mud tanks Types of Drilling Fluids
Water base:
Fresh and saltwater based fluids are typically used.
Clays and polymers are used for viscosity.
Barite is used for weight.. (Up to 19 ppg)
Oil Base:
Drillpipe
Annulus
Diesel and mineral are most often used as base.
Wellbore
Excellent lubricity. Environmentally difficult.
Jet Bit w/ Nozzles

Page 6
 Fluids

Watch the Shakers Constantly What a Flowing Well Looks Like

Wellbore Fluids may be drilling mud or a completion or work over fluid.
The hydrostatic pressure provided by these fluids is the first line of protection from unwanted
formation in-flow .
Monitoring the fluids as they are circulated across the shakers and back into the mud tanks is
necessary.
Observing a gain in pit volume, an increase in mud flow return rate, gas cut mud, change in cutting
types or mud weights, no fluid returns, or an excessive amount of returns with no pumps running will
all be warning signs to report to the Driller immediately.
Any delay in reporting any of the signs of a kick could endanger the well, the rig, and the its
personnel.

Page 7
 FLUIDS: FOR COMPLETION AND WORKOVERS

Well Control Functions of Completion/WO

Fluids
COMPLETION STRING • Well killing and well control.
• Conveys fluid loss pills.
• Spotting plugs, squeezes.

Tubing
SCSSV
Types of Completion/Workover Fluids
• Muds
String X Nipple •Muds are sometimes used as the workover
Packer Fluid fluid.
Gas Lift Mandrels • Brines
•Salt water based brines most typically used.
Gravel Pack Packer •Low densities: NaCl, CaC12, and KCl.
•High Densities: CaCl2, CaBr2, ZnBr2 blends.
Conventional Screens
Perforations • Gases and Foams
•Nitrogen and nitrogen foams most common.
Sump Packer

Page 8
 Fluids

Types and Functions of different kinds of workover and completion fluids

and their typical density weights. Density of these fluids are temperature
dependent.

Combination Salt Specialty Brines

NACL and KCL 8.4 to 10.0 ppg
KBr and KCL 8.4 to 10.9 ppg
NaBr and NaCL 8.4 to 12.7 ppg
Single Salt Specialty Brines NaCl and CaCL2 10.0 to 11.7 ppg
NA4CL 8.4 to 8.9 ppg CaCL2 and CaBr2 11.7 to 15.0 ppg
KCL 8.4 to 9.7 ppg NaBr and ZnBr2 12.8 to 18.0 ppg
NaCL 8.4 to 9.8 ppg CaCL2, CaBr2, and ZnBr2 15.2 to 19.2 ppg
CaCL2 8.4 to 11.6 ppg
NABr 9.0 to 12.4 ppg

Page 9
Page 10
The Rig crew makes a regular
check on drilling fluids on a Fluids
regular basis. The Properties
checked are:
• Density (PPG/S.G./psi/ft)
• Mud scales are used to measure the fluid weight and require
frequent calibration checks. Most times, the mud weight is
checked every 15 minutes. Temperature/pressure affects the
density of brines and must be accounted for.
• Rheology
• Describes the fluid’s flow characteristics.
• Viscosity – measures resistance to flow.
• Yield point – Measures hole cleaning ability.
• Gel strength – relates to hole cleaning and solids.
• Plastic viscosity Is a measure of the solids in the mud.
Page 11
Floorhand is shown measuring the
Viscosity of the drilling fluid by
timing the mud as it flows from the
funnel to the quart cup. This is
measured every 15 minutes when
drilling to detect a possible kick.
Fluid loss
• Is a measure of the fluid lost from
the mud to the formation.
• A permeable formation must be
present.
Filter cake
• Results from buildup of solids as
filtration progresses; high fluid
loss means a thick filter cake.
• Ideal filter cake is thin, hard, and
impermeable.
 Fluids
Yield Point
This is a measure of the dynamic surface tension of the mud. The
unit of measure for this property is pounds per 100 square feet.
This property will affect the Equivalent Circulating Densities and
swab and surge pressures when tripping pipe.

Gel Strength
Gel strength is the quality of the static surface tension of the mud,
or how well it can suspend solids when the mud is not in motion.
This property will also affect swab and surge pressures when
tripping pipe.

Gas Solubility in Oil Based Muds

When oil muds are used, natural gas will go into solution in the oil
phase of the muds - more so in diesel based than synthetic based.
In Oil Based Muds, very near the surface the gas reaches the
‘bubble point’ and the gas flashes out of the mud resulting in an
increase of flow from the well.

Page 12
 Fluids
During the course of many completions and workovers, drilling fluids can be encountered,
and in some cases drilling muds are used as workover fluids.
However, in many cases workover fluids are solids-free fluids as opposed to a drilling mud
containing solids.
The basic characteristics of most common drilling fluids are as follows:

Density
Density is the basis for maintaining Primary Well Control. Density is simply a measure of
the weight of the fluid according to a certain volume, such as pounds per gallon. The
density of drilling fluids are most often determined with the use of a mud balance.

Viscosity
Viscosity is a very important dynamic parameter in well control. Viscosity is the measure
of the ‘thickness’ of the drilling fluid. This ‘dynamic’ property is due to the amount of inert
(not reacting with water) solids contained in the mud, both prepared and incorporated
while drilling.
The viscosity is usually monitored and measured in two ways.
•By using a March Funnel recording the time required for a quart of the fluid to flow
through a calibrated funnel. This is only a relative measure of the viscosity. More time
through the funnel is correlative to a more viscous fluid and vice versa.
•The scientific means of checking viscosity is with a Rotational Viscometer and is normally
performed by the mud engineer. The unit of measure for this ‘plastic viscosity’ is
centipoise.

Page 13
 Fluids Summarized

Function of fluids Types

 Well control  Air/Gas fluids
 Transmit hydraulic  Water base fluids
horsepower to bit  Oil/Synthetic
 Formation evaluation base fluids
 Cement
 Completion
Fluids such as
brine

Water Base Mud Oil Base Mud

 Used in the surface and intermediate hole  Used in the production hole section.
sections.  Good inhibitive qualities.
 Lower pH systems help with reactive formations  Stable at high temperature.
(gumbo).  More prone to loss of circulation.
 Temperature limit – 2500 F.  Can “hide” gas in solution.

Page 14
 Kicks: ECD Pressures
Circulating System Pressures are
Rotary Hose
dependent on:
3000 psi 1. Length of the drillstring or work string
Swivel
2. Fluid density or weight in ppg
Rotating Pipe
3. Yield point and plastic viscosity of the fluid
4. Hydraulic diameters of the system
Standpipe
Kelly or Topdrive 5. Circulating rate/strokes per minute

Equivalent Circulating Density (ECD)

Mud
Pump • Pump pressure is a measurement of the total
Mud Pits friction loss of the system,
Flow
BOP Line Shakers
• Only the annular friction pressure loss is
applied against the wellbore. This is an
Rig Floor additional pressure to the hydrostatic pressure.
Casing • The annular friction loss pressure can be
converted to an equivalent density or weight
Formations and, when added to the weight of the drilling
10 ppg fluid, is called the Equivalent Circulating
Mud Wt. Density or ECD.

Annulus Drillpipe

Drilling Mud Wellbore

10.6 ppg
10,000 feet
With 10 ppg mud weight in the hole and the mud pumps pressure at 3000 psi, the bottomhole pressure is increased to
an equivalent mud weight of 10.6 ppg. This applies more pressure on the formation when drilling.

Page 15
 Volumes during Tripping
Most kicks occur while tripping the drillstring. A trip tank is used to monitor the well when the drillstring is being
removed from the well or being put into the well. When tripping out of the hole the level of the tank will drop as mud
is pumped from the trip tank to the well. As the drillstring is run into the hole, the trip tank will gain mud as the pipe
displaces a measured amount of mud from the well into the trip tank.

The Floorhand and his crew will assist

the Driller in keeping the hole full during
trips. Accurate hole fill records are kept
by the Driller.

CALIBRATED
TRIP TANK

DRILLSTRING

Flow line Use Trip Tanks and Document with Trip Sheets! This
Sensor form is used to keep up with the tripping process.

BOPS FLOWLINE

TRIP TANK FLOAT

MUD FLOWING…are
pumps running?

Page 16
Page 17
 Trip Trends
Monitor Trips with a Trip Tank

• Tripping out • Tripping in

– Incremental mud – Incremental mud
volume to fill the volume gained
hole (calc. vs (calc. vs actual)
actual) – Observe volume
– Observe volume trends at different
trends at different points
points – Total mud volume
– Total mud volume gained (calc. vs
to fill hole (calc. vs actual)
actual)
Page 18
 Tripping Procedure Guideline
BHA (505’): PDC, NBS, PC, IBS, DC,
Proper Tripping Procedures IBS, DC, IBS, 10DC,XO, 7HW, Jar, 8HW
 Prior to Tripping Pipe Circulate the hole until it is clean
9 5/8” Casing
 Prepare the drill floor for the trip including having the proper @ 600 TVD/MD
crossovers for safety valves
 Flow check the well with the pumps off to ensure the well is
stable before tripping.
 Pump a slug of heavy mud so the pipe will be pulled “dry” Gumbo
 Monitor hole through the rotary for the first 5-10 stands pulled
 Circulate the hole across the trip tank and continue to trip out
 Limit trip speed to minimize surge and swabbing Queen City
 Conduct flow checks on bottom, when the bottom hole
assembly(BHA) is pulled into the casing, and prior to pulling the 11.0 ppg
BHA into the BOP stack . Water Base Mud
Relaw
Shale

Big Blue High pressure gas

If a gas formation has been

penetrated, all personnel should be
aware of this before tripping!

Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
 Kicks: Swabbing
Swabbing happens when the bottomhole
assembly and wall of the drilled well come
in contact and lifts the mud column.
Swabbing happens primarily
while pulling out of the hole.
Warning Signs for
Swabbing the Well
 Watch for:
 Increased torque and drag
 Hole, Pipe, BHA or Geometry changes
 Over-pull on connections
 Pump Pressure Fluctuations when reaming
 Gumbo or reactive shales in cuttings
 High Rheology: PV, YP, and Gels
 Factors that can enhance a Kick:
 Pulling Pipe at high speeds
 High mud weights
 Tight hydraulic diameters
 REMEMBER!!
 Bottomhole Pressure (BHP) is reduced any
time pipe is raised!
Page 22
Kicks: Lowering Pipe too Rapidly into the Hole
(Surge)
String Safety Valve

 Lowering Pipe too fast Trip Tank

or rapidly into the hole
can cause surge BOP Stack
pressures.
Choke Manifold
Mud Pits
Mud Pumps

Kill Line

Gas Separator

Page 23
 Casing Surge Pressures

• Do not forget that running Casing in the hole creates extreme surge pressures due to
the low effective clearances between the wellbore and the casing string.
• Primary Well Control can be lost easily during the casing runs.

Page 24
 Kicks
Annular Gas Flow After Cementing
Casing
Pressure exerted on the cement can cause Cement
cement bond failure, causing annular gas
flow to other formations or to the surface.
•Bad Cement jobs (mixing and pumping).
•Channeling of cement slurry.
•Inadequate removal or displacement of
mud by the cement slurry.
•Inadequate cement volumes.
•Inappropriate cement slurry design.
Gas migration during the plastic phase of
the cement setting process. Excess
Cement setting process: Pressure

•Liquid phase (slurry)

•Plastic (transition from liquid to solid)
•Solid (strong with compressive strength)

GAS

Page 25