OMV is ramping up its geological survey work in Austria with a view to increasing its market share, which currently stands at about 10%, the company said Jan. 29.

The geological surveys cover an area of 600 sq km northeast of Vienna at a depth of 4,000 m to 6,000 m, OMV said.

OMV in recent years has expanded into Russian gas fields and it is also one of five Western energy companies involved in Gazprom’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

OMV is a majority shareholder in Gas Connect Austria, operator of Austria’s Baumgarten gas hub which handles about a third of the Russian gas pumped into Europe.