Production platform: HOCH-1 adds shallow gas upside to ADX’s infrastructure-linked Austrian growth strategy. Pic: ADX

ADX Energy has recorded stable, water-free gas flow from the first zone at its HOCH-1 shallow gas well in Upper Austria, supporting its fast-track gas strategy.

The first extended flow test from the HOCH-1 gas discovery delivered an average 2.7MMcf/d, or around 450boepd, over 11 hours. Wellhead pressure held steady at about 870psi despite down-hole gauges restricting flow.

ADX Energy executive chairman Ian Tchacos said the test had delivered encouraging results from the first Basin Floor Fan sand interval tested within the discovery.

“The water free flow rate from this single sandstone alone is commercially attractive given current European gas prices of EUR42 per MWh (US$14.10/MMbtu) as well as the increasing demand for local, European clean gas such as HOCH-1 pure methane (biogenic) gas,” he said.

Tchacos said HOCH-1 may cover a large area where multiple thin sand layers could hold commercial gas volumes, similar to nearby producing wells.

“The current testing program will consist of flow tests for individual or multiple intervals followed by shut in periods to determine the single well reserves potential of the sand bodies and their flow rates,” he said.

“As there are up to eight sand intervals the testing program is likely to involve multiple well tests.”

Chasing Austrian growth

Zone 1, the first interval tested at HOCH-1, is a Basin Floor Fan sand at about 1465m.

It spans 1464.6m to 1466.6m and is interpreted to extend across a broad area.

Down-hole pressure gauges were deployed on 18 June before the extended daylight flow test on 19 June.

With testing and flaring limited to daylight hours, HOCH-1 is now shut in for about two weeks while ADX measures pressure build-up and connected gas volume in Zone 1.

That pressure response is expected to give ADX an initial reserve estimate for Zone 1 before further testing of additional Basin Floor Fan sands and Base Hall channel zones.

Those results will help determine whether HOCH-1 is tied in for commercial production.

More zones

HOCH-1 encountered up to eight gas reservoirs in the Hall and Base Hall formations, based on gas shows and logging results during drilling.

Testing is underway in two phases.

The first phase targets the upper Hall formation, with up to three firm zones and a possible fourth contingent zone.

The second phase will test the lower Base Hall channel formations.

ADX’s 3D seismic cross-section outlines the Phase one test sequence, with the first zone at 1465m, further zones at 1550m and 1498m, and an optional fourth test at 1364m.

Further drilling

ADX Energy plans to drill the GOLD prospect (100% WI) in 3Q/4Q 2026. The broader GOLD/ZAUN/GRAB cluster is estimated to hold 12.1–13.3 bcf (P50–Pmean), with the potential for a farm-out ahead of drilling. 

KeyFacts Energy: ADX Energy Austria country profile