The energy landscape in Upper Austria is seeing a new push for domestic resource extraction as ADX Energy begins a strategic exploration phase in the region. Starting April 16, 2026, the exploration and production company is launching the ADX Energy natural gas drilling project known as “HOCH-1” in the municipality of Frankenmarkt, located near Vöcklabruck.
The HOCH-1 project, situated specifically within the cadastral community of Höhenwarth, represents the first of three planned shallow gas prospectings scheduled for 2026. This initiative is part of a broader effort by ADX Energy to rapidly expand its natural gas production capabilities within Austria, targeting specific geological formations that have historically shown high productivity.
According to company details, all necessary mining and nature conservation permits have been secured, and the required consents from landowners are already in place. The initial drilling and subsequent evaluation phase is expected to last approximately two weeks, with the company aiming to determine the reserve potential of the site through subsequent production tests if the initial drilling is successful via meinbezirk.at.
Technical Specifications and Geological Targets
The HOCH-1 drilling operation is specifically targeting miocene sandstones within the Hall Formation. These relatively shallow gas deposits are the primary focus of the exploration, as similar formations in the past have yielded significant production rates. The technical parameters of the well are precise: the measured depth (MD) of the borehole will reach approximately 1,430 meters, while the true vertical depth (TVD) is approximately 1,145 meters via tips.at.
The potential for the HOCH prospecting area is substantial. Based on available data, the area has a medium resource potential of approximately 226 million cubic meters (8.0 billion cubic feet) of natural gas, with a high-case potential reaching nearly 500 million cubic meters (17.3 billion cubic feet) via business24.ch.
The financial and operational risk is a key factor in this venture. ADX Energy has stated that the probability of discovering economically viable gas at the HOCH-1 site is approximately 50 percent. Despite this risk, the project is viewed as promising due to the performance of the target Hall Formation. In a success scenario, HOCH-1 could potentially produce up to 1,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
What This Means for Energy Production
To put the potential of these shallow prospectings into perspective, comparable drillings in the Hall Formation have previously achieved production rates of up to 9 million cubic feet per day. This level of output translates to roughly 110 MW of continuous power or 2.8 gigawatt-hours per day. While this is a significant amount of energy, it remains a fraction of larger urban needs; for instance, the city of Vienna consumes approximately 22 GWh daily via business24.ch.
Ian Tchacos, the Managing Chairman of ADX, has expressed hope that these three planned shallow drillings for 2026 will allow the company to scale its Austrian gas production quickly. The project is being carried out within the ADX-AT-I license area in Upper Austria, where ADX serves as the operator with a 50 percent economic interest.
Operational Timeline and Next Steps
The process for HOCH-1 follows a strict sequence of exploration and validation. Following the initial two-week drilling and evaluation period, the company will determine if the well has encountered viable gas. If the results are positive, the exploration well will be cased (verrohrt) and prepared for production tests. These tests are critical as they allow engineers to determine the actual reserve potential and the long-term viability of the site.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Start Date | April 16, 2026 |
| Location | Frankenmarkt (Höhenwarth), Upper Austria |
| Measured Depth (MD) | ~1,430 Meters |
| True Vertical Depth (TVD) | ~1,145 Meters |
| Success Probability | 50% |
| Medium Potential | 226 Million Cubic Meters |
The broader strategy involves two additional shallow prospectings following HOCH-1. This phased approach allows ADX Energy to assess the geological success of the first well before committing further resources to the remaining two projects in the region.
As the project progresses, ADX Energy has committed to providing regular updates regarding operational progress and the results of the drilling. The immediate focus remains on the successful completion of the borehole and the initial assessment of the Hall Formation’s productivity at this specific location.
The next confirmed checkpoint for the project is the completion of the initial two-week drilling and evaluation phase, after which the company will report whether the well will proceed to the casing and production testing stage.
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