OMV plans to explore geothermal potential in Styria

• OMV starts a seismic survey in the greater Graz area in December 2025
• Local exploration of the potential for potential deep geothermal energy
• OMV uses proven seismic methods with no impact on the environment

OMV announces that a comprehensive seismic survey is planned from December 2025 to explore the geothermal potential of the East Styrian basin in the greater Graz area. The aim of the campaign is to explore the geological subsurface at a depth of 700 to 3,500 meters and to gain insights into possible geothermal reservoirs, also known as hot water resources. This follows on from OMV's successful geothermal joint venture “deeep” with Wien Energie and draws on decades of experience in the Vienna Basin as well as expertise in exploration and production.

Once the seismic survey is complete, the collected data is analyzed and processed to create an image of the subsurface. This image will support the OMV experts in identifying potential geothermal reservoirs. Following the seismic data acquisition, an exploration well is planned for the second half of 2026. If the suspected geothermal potential is confirmed, OMV, together with Energie Steiermark and Energie Graz, is planning the long-term extraction of heat from deep geothermal energy for the greater Graz area and thus a sustainable, climate-friendly heat supply for the city. The implementation of this forward-looking project is currently still subject to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities.

Berislav Gaso, OMV Executive Vice President Energy, says: "Deep geothermal energy, i.e. the use of heat from deep underground, is a central part of OMV's transformation and offers a promising opportunity to supply households with climate-neutral district heating. With projects like this one in Styria, we are consistently driving forward the implementation of our geothermal strategy and paving the way for a sustainable, secure and regional energy future."

The seismic survey will only last a few weeks and will take place between December 2025 and March 2026. Special seismic trucks will be used to generate vibrations, primarily along public roads, and the reflections from the deep rock layers will be captured and recorded using geophones. The vibration excitations are comparable to natural ground vibrations in terms of frequency range and strength and have no negative impact on the environment. The measurements will cover a total length of around 900 kilometers. OMV has many years of experience with seismic campaigns and uses methods in Styria that have been tried and tested and have proven themselves worldwide in the past.

The project is currently in the approval phase, during which all the necessary official approvals are being obtained to ensure compliance with legal requirements. The seismic campaign is an important step for geothermal energy and subsequently for the use of climate-neutral energy in Austria.