Kick Tolerance Calculator

Work out kick tolerance instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Kick Tolerance Calculator

MAASP is the surface pressure at which the casing shoe would fracture: 0.052 x (leak-off equivalent - mud weight) x shoe TVD. Kick tolerance converts that into how large an influx can be circulated out without breaking down the shoe, which determines how much further the hole can safely be drilled.

Formulas

MAASP

MAASP (psi) = 0.052 x (LOT equivalent ppg - mud weight ppg) x shoe TVD (ft)

Kick intensity margin

Margin (ppg) = LOT equivalent - current mud weight

Worked example

With the default values below, Kick Tolerance Calculator returns Maximum Allowable Annular Surface Pressure of 1,638.0. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Casing Shoe TVDminimum 0.01 ft: 9,000 ft
Current Hole TVDminimum 0.01 ft: 11,000 ft
Mud Weightminimum 0.01 ppg: 12 ppg
Leak-Off Test Equivalentminimum 0.01 ppg: 15.5 ppg

Results

Maximum Allowable Annular Surface Pressure: 1,638.0
Kick Intensity Margin: 3.500
Tolerable Influx Height: 2,000.0
Shoe Strength Pressure: 7,254.0

Step by step

1Values used
2MAASP
3Kick intensity margin
4Maximum Allowable Annular Surface Pressure= 1,638.0
5Kick Intensity Margin= 3.500
6Tolerable Influx Height= 2,000.0
7Shoe Strength Pressure= 7,254.0

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
Kick tolerance is a critical well control calculation and must be performed by qualified well engineers using verified leak-off test data and the operator's own well control policy.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Kick tolerance is a critical well control calculation and must be performed by qualified well engineers using verified leak-off test data and the operator's own well control policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does kick tolerance shrink as the hole deepens?

Mud weight must rise with pore pressure, narrowing the gap to the shoe strength, while the open hole below the shoe lengthens. Both effects reduce the influx that can be handled.

Is kick tolerance the only casing setting criterion?

No. Wellbore stability, differential sticking risk, hole cleaning, and the need to isolate loss or flow zones all influence casing depth, alongside kick tolerance.