Lecture# 03
Detection of Kick
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Detection of Kick
    Minimizing amount of influx significantly increase
     chances of successful well control operation
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ROP Change
o Geolograph records real time events for
  future use
o Change in rate of penetration
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Flow Rate Increase
o When pump is running at constant rate, it displace
  fixed amount of fluid into well every minute
o Since injection rate of fluid into well is constant, rate of
  fluid return should also be constant
o Formation fluid may be feeding in if increase in fluid
  volume is seen (more flows out than we pump in)
  while pump rate has not changed
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Volume Gain
o Formation fluid entering well displace or kick fluid out of
  hole, resulting in gain in pit volume
o Increase in total pit volume show kick occur
o All circulating tanks should be measured and marked so
  additional increase will be promptly noticed
o Pit-volume totalizer systems (PVTs) are required by
  regulations and operators
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Float Type Pit Level
Sensor
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Flowrate Sensor
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Flow- Pump Off
o Whenever drilling break or reverse break is
  encountered, it is recommended that driller stops
  drilling immediately and performs flowcheck
o Flowcheck:
 ❖ Stop rotation
 ❖ Pick up pipe to connection height
 ❖ Shut down mud pumps
 ❖ Watch for flow from annulus
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Flow- Pump Off
After allowing for usual drainback:
o If flow cease, then drilling will be resumed
o If flow persist, it must be assumed formation
  is kicking and well must be shut-in
o Flowcheck is one early way kick can be detected
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Flow- Pump Off
Flow from annulus not due to kick which include:
o Charging pumps that did not shut down when rig
  pumps were turned off
o U-tubing of heavier fluid in string to annulus
o Flowback of mud due to ballooning
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Ballooning
o Tendency of some formations
  to accept drilling fluid when
  circulating, then give it back
  when pump is shut down
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Pit Volume Increase
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Speed/Pressure
Change
   Formation influx decrease density of fluid column
 Decrease hydrostatic pressure exerted by fluid column
       Mud in string tends to U-tube into annulus
   Pump pressure decrease & pump speed increase
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Change in
Pump Pressure/Speed due to Kick
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Gas/Oil Shows - Circulating
o Need gas detector to monitor return flow to detect
  abnormal pressure trends
o Increase in oil or gas mean feeding in because of
  insufficient hydrostatic pressure
o As more gas feed in and expand, hydrostatic pressure
  continue to drop until well start to flow
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Increase in Gas &
Signs of Oil in Pits
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Improper Fill Amount
o If well is not taking proper amount of fluid to fill we can
  assume that formation fluid is invading wellbore
o Tripping out of hole may be one of most common
  cause of kicks which include:
  ❖ Loss of circulating pressures
  ❖ Swabbing effect of pulling pipe
  ❖ Improper fill-up that reduce hydrostatic pressure
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String Wont Pull Dry
o When tripping out, it is possible for formation fluid to
  enter well to prevent fluid inside pipe from falling
o If string pull dry at first, but then it begin to pull wet
  later, trip should be suspended
o Full opening safety valve should be installed on pipe,
  and well conditions evaluated
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Kicks out of Hole
o Often began during the trip out but were not noticed
o More likely, kick started when hole was not filled
  frequently enough toward end of trip or while handling
  collars
o Indicator of kick when out of hole is flow from well
o When out of hole, it is good practice to close blind rams
  and monitor pressure at choke
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Kicks while out of Hole
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Displacement - Trip in
o Pipe run into well, displace fluid out equal to pipe's
  displacement if no floats are in use
o If pipe is lowered too fast, fluid may be forced into
  formation due to surge pressures
o Result in lowering fluid column and reduction of
  hydrostatic pressure
o With influx in hole, more volume is displaced out of hole
  than pipe’s displacement due to gas expansion and/or
  flowing well
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Flow Check while Tripping:
o Stop trip
o Set pipe in slips
o Stab full opening safety valve and close
o Observe well carefully
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String Weight Change
o Increase string weight could be due to influx which
  decrease density of fluid surrounding pipe
o As fluid density decrease, ability of fluid to provide
  buoyancy is reduced, resulting in increase of weight
o If there is decrease in string weight, decrease could be
  due to formation fluids forcing upwards against pipe
o Well should be shut in without delay
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Kicks while Wirelining
Well kicks occur while logging & during wireline activities
are result of:
o Swabbing action of tools being pulled through tight
  section of hole
o Swabbing effect of tools being pulled too fast
o Failing to keep hole full during such activities
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Wireline Lubricator
o Consideration should always be given
  to use of wireline lubricator
o Lubricator long enough to encompass
  tools allow string to be pulled from well,
  if kick occurs, without having to cut
  wireline to shut in well
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Kicks while
Casing Running
o Similar to kicks while tripping drillstring
o Rig operations are oriented to running casing, not to
  detecting well kick or shutting in well!
o Well kick can be detected by observing that flow of
  displaced mud does not stop between joints of casing
o If annular preventer is to be closed, closing pressures
  should be checked against collapse ratings of casing
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Kicks while Cementing
o Result of reducing annulus pressure during cement
  operation
o Reduction of annulus pressure result from:
 ❖ Light cement slurries
 ❖ Lost circulation
 ❖ Improperly weighted spacer
 ❖ Mechanics of cement setting up
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Cementing Unit
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