Payt posted a message on SH after a conversation with Kirby Mercer. The gist of this was that there had been some difficulty setting the casing through a layer of shale which kept sloughing in on them.

To my mind his seems about right. From what I read, but so long ago now I couldn't tell you where, the original attempt at K39 missed because this loose shale made it difficult to direct the drill. Technology has moved on in the relatively short time since then. The fact that this team are making sure they case the shale, and are prepared to spend some time doing it, merely confirms my conviction that if oil is there to be had, they will get it this time around. PDIP have a large interest in this play, and if an extension proves necessary then they are not going to quibble. Neither is the NF government. However I don't think it will be necessary. The time has been spent getting the conditions right before they drill on. My guess is that the actual drilling will be fairly quick once they start.

As for drilling on to explore the depth of the reservoir further, I share the conviction that there will be time and money enough for that if they hit oil this time around.

Keep everything you can crossed, and a few other things beside.


Regards
Dunnock