MOL Group, a hydrocarbon producer in Hungary, has discovered a new oil field in Western Hungary, near the town of Somogysámson. The exploration drilling, which took place in December last year, struck oil at a depth of 1,250m. The new well, named Som-8, has been tested and is confirmed to have a production capacity of 1,200 barrels of oil per day.
The drilling of Som-8 commenced in November 2024 and concluded within 33 days. This was followed by extensive testing through to March 2025.
The well’s output was transported by truck to the Danube Refinery located in Százhalombatta for processing.
MOL Group Exploration and Production executive vice president Zsombor Marton said: “I am very proud to announce that, after the exploration successes of the recent years, we have once again discovered a new oil field – this time in the Transdanubian region, where we last discovered oil more than a decade ago.
“The fact that we achieved this success in the concession belonging to Bázakerettye, which has an almost 100-year oil industry tradition, is clear evidence that there is still potential in hydrocarbon exploration in Hungary. We are discovering previously unknown hydrocarbon deposits one after the other and further strengthening the country’s security of supply: with the oil deposits in Vecsés and Tura and the natural gas fields in Eastern Hungary, we have reached a 5-year peak in domestic production.”
This discovery, expected to supply to the domestic market, is aligned with MOL’s significant investment strategy in exploration and production. Over the next five years, MOL plans to channel approximately HUF150bn ($410m) into enhancing oil and natural gas production within the country.
MOL dominates Hungary’s oil and gas production landscape, operating nearly 1,300 wells. In 2024, the company was responsible for delivering 47% of the nation’s crude oil (around 600 thousand tonnes) and nearly 90% of its natural gas (close to 1.5 billion cubic metres).
The Som-8 well’s daily production of 1,200 barrels contributes roughly 1% to MOL Group’s overall hydrocarbon production. As part of its international expansion, MOL Group manages assets across nine countries and maintains production in eight. The company’s average production in 2024 stood at 93.8 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day.
