the door opened

They have changed the tri-cone bit for a diamond one, and are drilling ahead at 60ft to 80ft/day. The diamond bit is slower, but much less chance of any breakage, and will probably not have to be changed again, i.e. until TD is reached.

Everything is proceeding exactly as expected. John would not elaborate on that, as to whether they had found a major gas show, for instance. There will be an announcement on Monday, not a TH, and I asked him if it would make me happy; he said that it would.

So, it sounds like a positive announcement, but not that they have struck a drill stopping high pressure zone: unless they do so in the next 24hrs.