The Perth-based explorer said the drill pipe has been tripped out and currently the 4½-inch casing is being run and cemented in place.

Coring is expected to begin shortly to reach a total depth of 1300m.

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.

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.