The Perth-based explorer said two coal seams were intersected during drilling – Veine 8, which encountered 3.45m of net coal (10.98m gross) from a depth of 767.62m, and Veine 9 with 13.46m of net coal (13.91m gross) at a depth of 803.43m.

“Within Veine 9, strong to very strong gas readings were recorded,” European Gas managing director Anthony McClure said.

“Laboratory tests on the coal and sediments are in progress and gas content data is expected shortly.”

He said his company was very encouraged by the results, which had confirmed the presence of thick to very thick gassy coal seams, as well as gas within the inter and intra seam sediments.

“Veines 8 and 9 constitute a younger coal packet, which occurs at a stratigraphically higher level to the three major packets originally expected in this well,” he said.

“The Veine 8/9 packet is much better developed than originally anticipated and is evidently a target for development.”

European Gas expects ongoing analysis of the well, which has a planned total depth of 1300m, will interpret at least three more gassy coal packets, including two major coal seams in the remainder of the well.

The Folschviller St-1 well, which is European Gas’ first well at the Lorraine project to spud, is located about 850m east of the town of Folschviller.

Once operations at Folschviller ST-1 are completed, the rig will then drill the second well at Diebling in the Alsting block.

The two-well program, which is expected to take between 10 and 12 weeks to complete, 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.

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