Kick intensity is the different between the maximum anticipated formation pressure and planned mud
weight.
For more understanding, please determine kick tolerance with following data;
Possible maximum formation pressure = 12.5 ppg
Planned TD mud weight = 12.0 ppg
Casing shoe = 6,500’MD/5,500’ TVD
Leak off test at casing shoe = 14.7 ppg
Hole depth = 10,100’MD/9,500’TVD
Bit = 12-1/4”
BHA = 850 ft
Average OD of BHA = 6.5”
Drill pipe size = 5”
Influx gradient (gas) = 0.11 psi/ft
1. Kick intensity = 12.5 – 12.0 = 0.5 ppg
2. Maximum Allowable Shut In Casing Pressure (MASICP) ** some people may call maximum allowable
initial shut in casing pressure**.
= (14.7 – 12.0) x 0.052 x 5,500 = 772 psi
3. Influx height:
4. Calculate influx volume at BHA based on the influx height
6. This volume is a reference at shoe; therefore, you need to convert it to the bottom hole
condition.
Boyle’s gas law is utilized in order to get the figure at the bottom hole.
P1 x V1 = P2 x V2
For this case, you need to use the maximum pressure at shoe which is the Leak Off Test pressure
because it is the maximum value before you will break the wellbore.
Rearranging the equation, you will get like this.
Influx volume at bottom, bbl = Influx volume at shoe x Leak off test pressure at shoe ÷ Formation
pressure, psi
Influx volume at shoe = 124.1 bbl
Leak off test pressure = 0.052 x 14.7 x 5,500 = 4,204 psi
Formation pressure = 0.052 x 12.5 x 9,500 = 6,175 psi
Influx volume at bottom, bbl = (124.1 x 4, 204) ÷ (6175) = 84.5 bbl
7. We need to compare 2 cases and the smaller figure is the kick tolerance of the well.
1 st case: 106.9 bbl
2 nd case: 84.5 bbl
Therefore, the kick tolerance is 84.5 bbl.
Conclusion: With the following information, the maximum kick that the well can take and personnel can
circulate it out of hole without breaking formation is 84.5 bbl.