While I am anxious as anybody to reach TD and get the "great"...

While I am anxious as anybody to reach TD and get the "great" news that we are all hoping for I think that some are getting a bit too keen insuggesting that we are almost there.

The well was spudded in mid January (Jan 16th)
Nowlast week's announcement indicated that on Friday February 4th the well was at about 9,500'.
Now that was DAY 20 of what has been estimated to be a 50 DAY drilling time to reach TD

So yesterday was February 9th and represented number 25 DAY in that projected drilling time. Sure the depth must have been getting close to 11,000' by then.

We are over halfway in drilling depth but only halfway in estimated drilling time.

So are we going to reach TD sooner than 50 days ? Maybe. It is possible.

However we have to acknowledge that things will slow down at these greater depths for a variety of reasons.
1. Coping with increased pressure or variations in pressure
2. Greater length of time involved in dragging the drill stem out to change things
3. More time taken to set casings at those greater depths.
4. Having to be more cautious with the drilling speed entering the target zones.

Therefore progress could well slow down considerably over the next week or two.
After all 50 days from spud date would take it through to Sunday March 6th by my calculations.

Okay we are likely to get some reports back as they hit some of the key areas below 14,000' but I expect that could be mid to late next week.

Happy to find that progress is more rapid than anticipated but slow and staedy and reliable will do me.