ADX Energy Rig Program Targets 40% Austrian Output Lift and HOCH-1 Gas Testing
Key Takeaways
- ADX's combined Work Over Rig Program starts 19 October 2026, using one contracted rig for both Vienna Basin production work and HOCH-1 testing.
- The Vienna Basin work is expected to add approximately 100 BOEPD, which management says is a roughly 40% increase in ADX's Austrian production.
- HOCH-1 has flowed 3.15 MMCFPD (548 boepd) from commingled Zones 2, 3, 4 and 5, with Zone 2 pressure analysis indicating 3.5 MMSCFPD potential.
- Phase 2 flow testing from 15 December 2026 targets Test Zone #6 in the Hall Channel, where seismic mapping indicates a trap extension of at least 2.5 km to the SE.
- The announcement gives no costs, no Zone 6 flow rate expectations and no reserves, so HOCH-1 remains a testing story rather than a production one.
HOCH-1 testing and Vienna Basin work program set to start 19 October
ADX Energy has scheduled a combined Work Over Rig Program to commence on 19 October 2026, pairing further HOCH-1 gas well testing with production enhancement work in the Vienna Basin. The Vienna Basin work is expected to add approximately 100 BOEPD (barrels of oil equivalent per day) of oil and gas production.
HOCH-1 Phase 2 flow testing is planned to commence on 15 December 2026. One contracted rig covers both jobs, which the company says allows ADX to work “efficiently and cost effectively.”
Ian Tchacos, Executive Chairman
“The combined production enhancement and well test work program allows ADX to utilise a contracted work over rig to efficiently and cost effectively incorporate HOCH-1 testing work with ADX production enhancement program at our 100% owned Vienna Basin fields…”
For investors, the point is simple: one rig mobilisation is doing two jobs, one aimed at near-term production and one at gas exploration upside.
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Vienna Basin well work targets a 40% lift in Austrian production
What the program involves
The Work Over Rig Program targets ADX’s 100% owned Gaiselberg and Zistersdorf fields in the Vienna Basin. The scheduled well work activities are, in the source order:
- Vienna Basin well gas zone perforation and gas completion installation in an existing well
- Vienna Basin well pump replacement
- HOCH-1 cement plug drill out, recompletion and Hall Channel testing
- Vienna Basin well perforation of new production interval and sand retention completion
Perforation means creating openings in a well’s casing so oil or gas can flow in. A sand retention completion is equipment designed to hold back sand from entering the well.
Commodity price backdrop
Mr Tchacos said the roughly 100 BOEPD represents an approximate 40% increase in ADX’s Austrian production. He framed it as arriving when Brent oil is trading at approximately US$100 per barrel.
He also cited the European gas price (TTF November contract) at approximately EUR 75 per MWh, which he said equates to US$25 per MMBTU or an oil price equivalent of US$152 per barrel. These are management’s figures, and the implication is that any added barrels would be sold into strong pricing.
HOCH-1 results to date and what Phase 2 targets
Phase 1 results
Two flow tests have been completed so far in Phase 1.
| Test | Zones | Flow rate | Source release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test 1 (11-hour period) | Zone 2 alone | 2.7 MMCFPD (450 boepd) | 23 June 2026 |
| Test 2 (12-hour period) | Commingled Zones 2, 3, 4 and 5 | 3.15 MMCFPD (548 boepd) | 28 August 2026 |
MMCFPD means million cubic feet of gas per day. Pressure build-up analysis on Zone 2 indicated excellent sand productivity (3.5 MMSCFPD potential) with a sand extent of at least 600 metres from the well.
Downhole gauge data also confirmed additional gas flow contribution from three additional gas zones during commingled testing.
Phase 2 and Test Zone #6
Phase 2 shifts attention to the deeper Hall Channel. Key points from the announcement:
- The well was drilled, cased and completed on 15 May 2026, encountering up to eight biogenic gas reservoirs across the Hall Fm. and Hall Channel.
- ADX is operator and holds a 50% economic interest in the HOCH gas discovery, in the ADX-AT-I exploration licence in Upper Austria.
- Phase 2 will focus on Hall Channel zones only, testing at least one additional reservoir (Test Zone #6).
- A work over rig is required to remove the current completion, drill out a cement plug and re-run a testing completion before perforation.
- Further deeper Hall Channel reservoirs may also be tested if considered appropriate.
On the geology, post-drill 3D seismic mapping of the Hall Channel Sands was correlated with nearby wells, indicating the potential for a large lateral extension of the reservoirs. The interpretation is further supported by historical reserves data from nearby Hall Channel production wells. A figure in the release describes the mapping as indicating an extension of the stratigraphic trap of at least 2.5 km to the SE.
Understanding gas well testing and what it means for investors
A flow test measures how much gas a well can deliver over a set period. After flowing, the well is shut in and downhole gauges record pressure build-up, which ADX says will be used for future reserves determination.
Commingled testing flows several zones together, while a single-zone test isolates one reservoir. The second Phase 1 test combined Zones 2, 3, 4 and 5, whereas the first tested Zone 2 alone.
The two formations also differ in shape. According to the release, Hall zones are characterised as more evenly distributed basin floor fan reservoirs, while Hall Channel zones are characterised as elongated lens shaped channel reservoirs.
What this tells you is that these are test results, not reserves. The announcement does not state reserves, commerciality or a production start for HOCH-1.
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What’s next for ADX
The rig program starts on 19 October 2026, with HOCH-1 Phase 2 flow testing planned from 15 December 2026. Mr Tchacos said:
“We look forward to reporting on the results of the Vienna Basin well work program and the further gas reservoirs testing work at HOCH-1 over the coming month.”
Further updates on HOCH-1 testing and the Vienna Basin production enhancement program will be provided as they become available. The announcement does not give costs or expected Zone 6 flow rates, so those remain open questions for the Phase 2 results.
Ready to Learn More About ADX Energy’s HOCH-1 and Vienna Basin Programs?
A single work over rig is set to deliver roughly 100 BOEPD of Vienna Basin production, a 40% lift in Austrian output, while HOCH-1 Phase 2 testing targets further Hall Channel gas upside. With Brent near US$100 per barrel and European gas prices elevated, the timing of this program is worth watching.
Explore the ADX Energy company profile and latest updates to see how these projects could shape the company’s growth. Stay informed as results from both programs are released.