The Folschviller ST-1 well is currently being drilled 850m east of the town of Folschviller.

With a planned total depth of 1300m, the well aims to intersect three major packets of coal between 870m and 1300m from surface. The Westphalian D coal-bearing sequence should be encountered at 700m where a core will be cut through to total depth.

Once operations at Folschviller ST-1 are complete, the rig will then drill the second well at Diebling in the Alsting block. The two-well drilling program is expected to take between 10 and 12 weeks to complete.

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.

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

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 two-well program is designed to help develop the large gas-in-place resource, which to date totals 28.1 billion cubic metres (991.2 billion cubic feet) within about 7% of the company’s permit and application areas.

Drilling is being carried out by Cofor of Maisse, France using a trailer mounted Wirth B3/B5 drilling rig under a turnkey contract. Wireline logging will be carried out by Deutsche Montan Technologie of Essen, Germany while mud logging services will be provided by Geo-RS of Parigny, France.