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A kick or an influx may be defined as an unintended flow of formation fluid into the borehole. It occurs when the wellbore pressure falls below the formation pore pressure. Not all kicks are dangers; however, an uncontrolled kick can lead to catastrophic events. A reliable early kick detection and monitoring system is critical to maintaining wellbore stability. Typically, the gain in pit volume and change in flow rate serve as some of the primary kick indicators. Secondary indicators include borehole pressure, temperature, resistivity, mud properties, and cuttings. While the gain in pit volume can indicate the kick with higher reliability, the downhole measurements in conjunction with high-speed telemetry and advanced real-time processing algorithms can be an effective early warning system, enabling timely mitigation plans. This lecture begins with some basics of wellbore stability, kick indicators, and monitoring systems. Various downhole sensor measurements and their relevance to kick detection are discussed. Both experimental and field examples are presented to illustrate the methodology. Pressure data are analyzed to estimate change in density and correlate it with the type, location, and evolution of the influx along the wellbore. Some innovative ideas on sensor design and realtime data processing for event detection and uncertainty quantification are discussed.
One key message from this lecture: Kicks can be catastrophic, but recent and future developments in sensor technology, data processing, and telemetry are enabling timely identification and mitigation plans.