ADX Energy HOCH-1 Well Production Testing Set for Mid-June 2026

ADX Energy Completes HOCH-1 Well, Production Testing on Track for Mid-June

ADX Energy Ltd (ASX: ADX) has reached a significant operational milestone at its Hochfeld-1 ("HOCH-1") shallow gas exploration well in Upper Austria, with ADX Energy HOCH-1 well production testing now firmly on the horizon following the conclusion of drilling operations. The well is fully prepared for perforation and production testing, the rig has been released from site, and well testing is expected to commence by mid-June 2026 — a moment that investors have been anticipating since drilling kicked off on 16 April 2026.

The completion of casing, cementing, and the installation of a production completion string marks the transition from the drilling phase to what could be the most consequential stage of this programme: finding out what HOCH-1 has in store below the surface.

Drilling Done — The Real Test Begins

The final sequence of operations at HOCH-1 moved quickly following the last operational update on 11 May 2026. The key steps completed include:

• Running and cementing of 4½ inch casing to secure the wellbore
• Running of a 2⅜ inch production completion string inside the casing
• Installation of a Christmas tree and wellhead in preparation for testing
• Rig release and preparation for demobilisation on 15 May 2026 at 06:30 CET

With the well now mechanically complete, attention turns to the mobilisation of well testing surface equipment to the HOCH-1 location ahead of the mid-June testing window.

What Happens Before Testing Begins

Before the well can be perforated and flow-tested, ADX will finalise the evaluation of a comprehensive suite of logs acquired across the prospective sand intervals encountered during drilling. This log analysis will directly shape the production testing programme — determining which intervals are targeted and in what sequence.

"Well completed in preparation for perforation and production testing. Production testing expected to commence by mid-June."
— ADX Energy, ASX Release, 18 May 2026

The log evaluation is expected to be completed within the coming days, with further updates on the testing programme to be released when available.

Understanding the Key Concept: Well Completion and Perforation Testing

For investors less familiar with oil and gas drilling workflows, the distinction between "completing" a well and actually "producing" from it is an important one.

What Is a Well Completion?

After a well is drilled to its target depth, the wellbore must be lined with steel casing and cemented in place to stabilise it and isolate different rock layers. A production completion string — in this case, a 2⅜ inch tubing string — is then run inside the casing to provide a conduit through which gas can flow to surface.

What Is Perforation?

Once the completion is in place, the target gas-bearing sand intervals (identified from the wireline logs) are "perforated" — small explosive charges punch holes through the casing and cement into the reservoir rock, allowing gas to flow into the wellbore.

Why Does This Matter to Investors?

The production testing phase is where the geological promise of a well becomes measurable reality. Flow rates, pressures, and reservoir behaviour observed during testing are the key data points that determine whether a discovery is commercially viable. For HOCH-1, this testing phase — expected mid-June — represents the first tangible read on the well's potential.

HOCH-1 in Context: Part of a Bigger Programme

HOCH-1 is not a standalone bet. It sits within a broader three-well shallow gas drilling campaign in the ADX-AT-I exploration licence in Upper Austria, and furthermore, the results here carry implications well beyond this single wellbore.

ADX holds a 50% economic interest in the HOCH prospect and operates the well, meaning the company has direct control over the pace and approach of operations. Two additional gas prospects in the same region are already permitted for drilling in 2026, meaning a successful result at HOCH-1 could accelerate the broader campaign with momentum and investor confidence behind it.

The Path to Mid-June: Key Milestones to Watch

The next several weeks carry a defined sequence of events that investors should track closely:

1. Log Evaluation Finalised — Coming days: ADX completes its analysis of wireline logs across prospective sand intervals to design the testing programme
2. Testing Programme Confirmed — ADX to release a further update on the specific testing approach once determined
3. Surface Equipment Mobilised — Well testing equipment to be transported and rigged up at the HOCH-1 location
4. Perforation and Production Testing — Expected to commence by mid-June 2026
5. Test Results Released — Flow rates and reservoir data to be reported to the ASX, providing the critical readout on the well

Why This Moment Matters for the Investment Case

ADX Energy is at a genuine inflection point. The completion of drilling at HOCH-1 removes execution risk from one of the most operationally intensive phases of an exploration programme — and does so on schedule. Consequently, the focus now shifts entirely to what the reservoir will deliver.

Key Elements of the Investment Case

Several elements of the investment case come into sharper relief as testing approaches:

• Operator control: As operator with a 50% economic interest, ADX retains significant exposure to any discovery while managing the programme directly
• A multi-well pipeline: The two additional permitted prospects mean that HOCH-1 is potentially the first chapter in an active 2026 drilling story — not the only one
• Near-term catalysts: The mid-June testing window means investors don't have to wait long for material new information
• Upper Austria context: The region has an established history of hydrocarbon production, providing an infrastructure and regulatory backdrop familiar to the industry

The well testing phase is binary by nature — results will either validate the geological thesis or require a reassessment. However, the fact that HOCH-1 encountered prospective sand intervals worth logging in detail, and that ADX Energy HOCH-1 well production testing is now moving purposefully forward, is consistent with a company executing its exploration plan with discipline.

Key Takeaway

ADX Energy has advanced HOCH-1 from spud to completion-ready in approximately four weeks, with production testing on track for mid-June 2026. As the first of three permitted shallow gas wells in Upper Austria, HOCH-1 represents a near-term catalyst that could define the trajectory of ADX's 2026 exploration programme. Investors should watch closely for the log evaluation summary and, most critically, the production test results expected next month.

Glossary of Key Terms

• Casing: Steel pipe run into a drilled wellbore and cemented in place to stabilise the well and prevent formation fluids from entering uncontrolled
• Completion string: Tubing installed inside the casing through which hydrocarbons flow from the reservoir to surface
• Christmas tree: The assembly of valves and fittings installed at the surface of a completed well to control flow during production and testing
• Perforation: The process of creating holes through casing and cement into a reservoir to allow hydrocarbons to flow into the wellbore
• Wireline logs: Measurements taken in the wellbore using sensor-equipped cables, used to evaluate rock properties and identify prospective intervals
• Production testing: A controlled flow test designed to measure reservoir pressure, flow rates, and fluid characteristics to assess commercial potential

Ready to Follow ADX Energy's HOCH-1 Journey to Production Testing?

With drilling complete and production testing at HOCH-1 expected by mid-June 2026, ADX Energy (ASX: ADX) is approaching one of the most critical milestones in its 2026 exploration programme. As operator with a 50% economic interest in the first of three permitted shallow gas wells in Upper Austria, the company is well-positioned for what could be a defining period for investors. To learn more about ADX Energy, its Austrian exploration licence, and the broader project pipeline, visit the official company website at adx-energy.com.