ADX Energy Ltd. has discovered gas-filled reservoirs at its Hochfel-1 well in Upper Austria.
The well, which commenced drilling on April 16 in the ADX-AT-I licence area, intercepted the primary target, biogenic methane-filled sands within the Hall Formation, at a depth of approximately 1,350 metres.
The find was confirmed through drill cuttings, mud-logs, and high total gas concentrations encountered during operations.
Due to the strength of the gas shows, ADX has opted to deepen the well to at least 1,550 metres to ensure all potential gas-filled sandstones are fully penetrated. The MND MD-150 rig was drilling ahead at a measured depth of 1,367 metres on May 6.
ADX Executive Chairman Ian Tchacos said: “The board of ADX is pleased and encouraged by the initial drilling results indicating that HOCH-1 is a gas discovery in line with our predrill expectations.
“Importantly, the excellent pre-drill 3D seismic prediction provides confidence in the potential of the shallow gas play, our large number of mature prospects and increases the expectation of success for the permitted GOLD and SCHOEN prospects, which are planned to be drilled in 2026.”
The HOCH prospect is estimated to hold a mean prospective resource of 8 billion cubic feet (BCF), with a high case potential of 17.3 BCF.
Similar wells in the Hall Formation have previously recorded initial production rates of up to 9 mmscf/d—roughly 1,500 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
A comprehensive wireline logging program is scheduled for May 7 to confirm reservoir quality, thickness, and gas saturation. If these quick look results validate the initial drilling data, the well will be cased and completed in preparation for production testing.
ADX is the operator of the project and holds a 50 per cent economic interest in the prospect.
This discovery marks a successful start to the company’s three-well shallow gas campaign in Upper Austria, aimed at securing locally produced energy for the European market.
