The initial program comprises two vertical core wells enabling definition of parameters for the two subsequent under-balanced lateral development/production wells.

The company said it estimates its gas-in-place resource at about 991.2 billion cubic feet.

The first well at Folschviller is due to spud on or around July 24. Upon completion, the rig will then be used to drill the second well at Diebling. The drilling program will take about 10 weeks to complete, according to European Gas.

The first well, Folschviller ST-1, is to be drilled at a site 850m east of the town of Folschviller. Planned total depth is 1300m and three major packets of coal are targeted to be intersected between 870 and 1300m from surface. The Westphalian D coal-bearing sequence should be encountered at 700m where core will be cut through to total depth.

The second vertical well, Diebling ST-1, is to be drilled 2.1km southwest of the town of Diebling. Planned total depth is 1500m and six major zones are targeted. The Westphalian D coal-bearing sequence should be reached at 880m and coring will be continuous from that point through to total depth.

The primary objective is the Westphalian D and C sequences with about 30m of net coal targeted in each well.

For each well, the core will be analysed for gas content for the coal seams; inter-seam sediments gas contents; porosity and permeability; fracture and cleating; and fluid sensitivity.

Drilling will be carried out by French company Cofor, using a trailer-mounted Wirth B3/B5 drilling rig under a turnkey contract. Cofor is based in Maisse, France.

Wireline logging will be carried out by Deutsche Montan Technologie of Essen, Germany, and mud-logging services will be provided by Geo-RS of Parigny, France.

Subject to rig availability and casing delivery schedules, development drilling is planned to start late this year or early next year at both sites.

“The combination of multilateral drilling, directed perpendicular to the compression fields, combined with under-balanced conditions will allow for maximum exposure to the coal packets and should lead to enhanced permeability,” European Gas said.

“If required, dry gas fraccing may be used to enhance gas flows. It is expected that each well will support in the first instance up to 2400m of lateral development within the same coal seam. The wells will also be engineered to enable additional laterals to be drilled into other coal packets.”

The initial development wells will each drain areas where the energy density is higher than 37Bcf per square mile, measured in coals shallower than 1500m.

As the Westphalian sequences in the Lorraine Basin are not water-saturated, dewatering is expected to be minimal.