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As previously indicated, the first exploration hole (GE 26-88) tapped methane and water at the seam horizon and 90 feet below, so plans were initiated to convert it to a de-gassing and de-watering hole to monitor flows and alleviate the mine problems. Although the water inflow was not encountered until the Maxwell, Apache and Allen seams were contacted, the water level rose by artesian pressure to a steady level of 230 feet above the Maxwell seam. Unfortunately, because of strata pressure, GE-26-88 could not be recovered after the delay in acquiring the necessary casing, well-head fittings, pump, generator, etc. Therefore, a companion hole (GE 33-88) was drilled and completed 20 feet closer to the workings, which produced 440 mcf per day of methane at absolute pressure (1,004 Btu per cubic foot) and 20 gpm of water. An additional hole (GE 35-88), 80 feet away, encountered similar conditions and produced 700 mcf per day of methane and 70 gpm of water. • An analysis of the water (Table 5a), observations in the mine of water and methane flowing upwards out of the seam floor, the variation in methane liberation with change of water level in the gas wells, and nature of the occurrence of water encountered in other holes indicates that an open-fracture fault system, charged with deep seated artesian water has been encountered. The water pressure has hydro-fractured the coal, allowing significant methane liberation from affected coal seams. As the hydro-static pressure is reduced by water draining into the mine and/or being pumped from bore holes, it is expected that methane liberation could increase and then later progressively decrease. In fact, this is being experienced in the mine where, despite the release of 1,140 mcf per day by the bore holes, the methane liberation into the section had increased from 1.8 • million cubic feet per day at the end of February to over 2 _ million cf per day by the end of April. This increased methane flow again caused temporary withdrawal in the section. 2.04-6(1) (Revised 09/01/89)