Positive Kick Indications

Positive kick indications mean indications showing almost 100% kick (wellbore influx) into wellbore. There are 2 types of positive kick indicators described in this article.

Positive Kick Indicators While Drilling

1. Increase in flow show - Without any increasing in flow rate in, increase in return flow indicates something coming into a wellbore while drilling. Therefore, flow show instrument provided by the rigs or service companies must be checked and calibrated frequently.

2. Increase in the active pit system (Pit gain) - Because drilling fluid system on the rig is a closed system, increasing in the active pit system indicates that there is unwanted fluid entering into the wellbore. Nowadays, with high technology sensors, detecting changes in a pit level is easily accomplished at the rig site. However, visually check the pit level is important as well for double checking figures from the electronic sensors. Sometimes, changes in pit level may be detected after the increase in flow show because it takes more time to accumulate volume enough to be able to detect by the pit sensors.

3. Continue flowing while the mud pumps are turn off - When pumps are turned off, bottom hole pressure will decrease due to loss of equivalent circulating density. If there is any flow coming after pumps off, it indicates formation influx into the wellbore.


Positive Kick Indicators While Tripping

There are 2 positive kick indicators while tripping as listed below.

1. Trip log deviation such as short fill up while tripping out and excess pit gain while tripping in - For tripping operation, it is very important to have a filling system via a trip tank that provides continuous hole fill all the time. With utilizing that system, we can compare fluid that is filled in or returned from the wellbore with steel volume of tubular (drill pipe, drill collar, bottom hole assembly, tubing, casing, etc). If drilling fluid volume is less than theoretical pipe displacement while tripping out of hole or more return fluid while running in hole, you need to flow check and monitor the well.

If flow check indicates wellbore influx, crew must quickly shut the well in.
If flow check does not show any influx, a drill string must be run back to bottom in order to circulate at least bottom up to ensure hole condition.
2. Positive flow when pipe is static - Trip tank with a proper filling system must be monitored all time by both rig personnel and mud loggers every time that the drill string is in static condition. If volume in trip tank increases, personnel must perform flow checking and prepare to shut the well in.

Tubing and Casing