OMV to start seismic survey for geothermal project in Graz, Austria by December 2025

The OMV Group has announced that comprehensive seismic surveys as part of the evaluation of geothermal potential of the Eastern Styrian Basin in the greater Graz area, Austria are planned to commence by December 2025. If results are optimistic, the company plans to follow with exploratory drilling by the second half of 2026.

Plans to develop a 140 MWth geothermal heating facility in Graz were first announced earlier this year, to be executed by OMV with Energie Steiermark and Energie Graz.  The project targets the drilling of four doublets to a depth of 3,000 to 4,000 meters.

The goal of the seismic surveys is to explore the geological subsurface at a depth of 700 to 3,500 meters and gain insights into potential geothermal deposits. After the seismic survey is completed, the collected data will be analyzed and processed into an image of the subsurface. The seismic measurements are expected to take place between December 2025 and March 2026, and will extend over a total length of approximately 900 kilometers.

The project is currently in the approval phase, during which all necessary regulatory approvals are being obtained to ensure compliance with legal requirements.

“Deep geothermal energy, i.e. the use of heat from deep underground, is a central component 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,” commented Berislav Gaso, OMV Executive Vice President Energy.

Meanwhile, OMV with partner Wien Energie continues with drilling work for the first geothermal heating plant in Vienna, which started before the end of 2024.

Source: OMV

Carlo Cariaga

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