There is a recent Washington Post article that says they are on the verge of breaking thru.
I hope they discover some form of life in the lake. It would be amazing to discover what the evolutionary outcomes would be for organisms in such an isolated harsh environment.
As of 13 January, they had reached a depth of 3737.5 meters, about 15 meters away from liquid water. With three teams drilling around the clock and making progress at an average of 2 meters per day, Priscu says they're on track to break through within the week.
edit: It will only take another year because they're letting the lake water come up through a small bore-hole and freeze, which they will examine next summer season.
I'm glad that the Russian Government did not bail out of this project in the end, and instead decided to see it through. I only wish more tax dollars were spent towards research, rather than fighting.
Please refer to the original article and search for ‘But the work has not been going very smoothly’. Also, check out the link posted by smoody and search for ‘nerve-wracking moment for the drillers’. We don't want antifreeze and other stuff to get into the clear water underneath, I guess.
Are they actually drilling? As opposed to melting the ice and removing the water. Especially since the ice is near its melting point at their current depth as per article.
(Sorry, but I think it's almost obligatory to link A Colder War every time this story comes up.)