the surface possibly pushing the drilling mud and any pipe in the well upward the hydrocarbon may be gas which can inadvertently be ignited normally kicks are controlled by personnel at platform 40 detecting the kick in advance and taking remedial action a variety of techniques are used by personnel based on experience to detect a kick also a variety of remedial actions are taken for example detecting that more drilling mud is returning than being pumped in may indicate a kick the remedial action may include closing the annular bop 27 and pumping heavier fluid down the choke and kill lines to port 21 which directs the heavier fluid into the well if drilling mud continues to flow up riser 35 and out outlet 41 the operating personnel may close diverter 39 and direct the flow to a remote flare line if remedial actions are not working the operating personnel can close rams 19 and shear drill pipe 49 then disconnect riser 35 such as at connector 23 or connector 33 platform 40 can then be moved bringing riser 35 along with it the detection and remedial steps require decisions to be made by operating personnel on platform 40 the drilling system shown in fig1 has features to automatically detect.