History

1935 

Foundation of Rohöl-Gewinnungs Aktiengesellschaft (RAG) on October 15th, 1935 by  Socony Vacuum Oil Company, Inc. (today's Exxon Mobil Corporation) and N.V. de Bataafsche Petroleum Maatschappij (today's Royal Dutch Shell plc).

1937

First oil discovery at RAG 2 well in Zistersdorf, Lower Austria.

1938

"Anschluss" (annexation) of Austria to the "German Reich" on March 13th; development of Gaiselberg oil field started.   The German "Bitumen Act" takes effect on August 31st. As a result, RAG loses its exploration license in the Vienna Basin.

1939

Outbreak of World War II on September 1st.

1940

Appointment of a "Feindvermögens-verwalter" (enemy asset manager) for the Royal Dutch Shell share on June 22nd. 

1941

The "German Reich" declares war on the United States of America, leading to the appointment of a "Feindvermögens-verwalter" (enemy asset manager) for the share of Socony Vacuum Oil Company in RAG (1942).

1945

End of World War II on May 8th. Oil production from RAG's Zistersdorf concession exceeds 1.5 million tons at the end of the war.

1946

"Potsdam Conference" held by the Allies: "German assets" in the occupied territories are allocated to the respective occupying power. Under the Federal Act of July 26th, all crude oil companies, including RAG, are nationalised. 

1947

RAG obtains exploration contracts pursuant to Section 2 of the Reservoir Act in Salzburg, Braunau and Ried.

1949

Soviet Mineral Oil Administration (SMV) discovers largest Central European oil field Matzen-Auersthal. Already before the war, RAG planned to drill an exploration well close to the discovery well.

1951

RAG obtains further exploration contracts pursuant to Section  2 of the Reservoir Act in Bad Hall and Feldbach. Start of geological mapping of the concession area in Styria. In the verbal note of July 31st, the Austrian federal government assures denationalisation of oil companies owned by members of the United Nations.

1955

Four exploration and production agreements are signed by the Republic of Austria and RAG. The Austrian State Treaty is signed on May 15th. The "Vienna Memorandum" is signed by the Western Allies and the Austrian federal government. 

1956

Discovery well Puchkirchen 1 goes onstream on May 27th: Upper Austria becomes an oil province.

1958

First delivery contract on gas deliveries from Zistersdorf fields entered into by RAG and Niogas.

1959

Discovery of oil field in Ried/Innkreis.

1963

Commercial production of natural gas started. Discovery of Voitsdorf oil field, the largest oil field in the Molasse zone (3.4 million tons of recoverable reserves).

1966

Start of gas deliveries from Voitsdorf field to Kirchdorf a. d. Krems.

1973

Change of legal form: Rohöl-Gewinnungs AG becomes Rohöl-Aufsuchungs Ges.m.b.H., as adopted by shareholders' resolution on October 9th.

1978

Opening of tank farm in Kremsmünster-Krift (1st stage of expansion) under the Crude Oil Compulsory Storage and Reporting Act.

1981

Previous rights under nine exploration and production contracts are adapted to the 1975 Mining Act.

1982

Construction of gas storage facilities in Puchkirchen to store around 40 million cubic metres of working gas. The deepest well of RAG – Oberhofen 1 – is drilled to 4,597 m, but proves dry. Startup of railway loading station in Ried.

1983

Start of partial supply of Kremsmünster with district heat.

1984

Start of CO2 flooding project in the Ried/Innkreis oil field. First application of 3D seismics in the Voitsdorf field.

1988

Start of gas deliveries to Salzburg (SAFE) and Styria (Steirische Ferngas Ges.m.b.H.).

1989

First commercial gas reservoir discovered in the province of Salzburg – Berndorf field.

1992

Conversion of Rohöl-Aufsuchungs Ges.m.b.H. into a public limited company. EVN Energie Versorgung Niederösterreich acquires 50% each in Mobil Oil Austria and Shell Austria AG. Resolution adopted to expand the Puchkirchen underground gas storage.

1993

EVN transfers its shares to RAG-Beteiligungs-Aktiengesellschaft (RBG). Bayernwerke AG acquires 40%, SAFE and Steirische Ferngas Ges.m.b.H. each acquire 10% in the RBG holding company. Start of horizontal drilling well for Puchkirchen underground gas storage.

1995

Startup of expanded storage facility at Puchkirchen with a total working gas volume of 500 million cubic metres. 

1996

Following a total of ten dry holes, the "RAG Styria" concession is returned. Three wells are used today as health and thermal spas – Loipersdorf, Waltersdorf and Blumau.

1997

Largest gas field discovered in the Austrian Molasse zone – Haidach - holding around four billion cubic metres of gas. With the "Salzach-Inn" exploration licence (approx. 2300 km²) granted by the Free State of Bavaria, RAG obtains its first concession outside of Austria.

1998

Mobil Oil Austria sells its 25% share in RAG.

1999

The 1975 Mining Act is superseded by the Mineral Resources Act (MinroG), which takes effect on January 1st, 1999. RAG takes over RWE-DEA's Bavarian concession "Rosenheim-Traunstein" (around 835 km²). First deep well in Bavaria (Titmonning R1) drilled at the end of the year. The well is dry.

2000

Discovery of Nussdorf West gas field. The Austrian Gas Act becomes effective on August 10th, 2000. 

2001

First gas sales to Germany and Italy.

2002

On October 1st, 2002, the Gas Act GWG II becomes effective and aims at full liberalisation of the gas market.  Storage volume of Puchkirchen underground gas storage increased to 700 million m³.

2003

RAG and Wintershall enter into first international joint venture in "Chiemgau" concession area (781 km²) in Bavaria. 

2004

Discovery of Zagling gas field. Contracts for construction of Haidach gas storage facility signed.

2005

Start of largest project in RAG's history, the Haidach gas storage facility. Joint venture with Gazprom export and Wingas.

2006

In this year, RAG commissions the most extensive seismic survey in Europe, covering more than 600 km². Highest gas volume produced and traded reaches 1.2 billion m³. Discovery of Hiersdorf oil field.

2007

Opening ceremony of Haidach storage facility on May 24th, 2007. Expansion of Puchkirchen underground gas storage site to hold a storage volume of 850 million m³. Exit of Shell as shareholder – shares are taken over by the other shareholders.

2008

Start of final expansion of the Puchkirchen site to provide a storage volume of 1.1 billion m³ and a withdrawal capacity of 520,000 m³/h. Contracts to build 7Fields storage facilities, the largest project in RAG's history. Start of construction of storage facilities 7Fields stage I; startup scheduled for April 2011. Development, purchase and startup of E200 drilling rig. Development of Bad Hall oil field. Discovery of Aigelsbrunn gas field. Entry in Ukrainian market through E&P activities on Crimean Peninsula.

2009

Foundation of  fully-owned subsidiary RAG Hungary by acquiring an already existing company. Acquisition of 26% share in shale gas project in Poland. 3D seismic survey conducted in Attergau West. Start of expansion of Aigelsbrunn storage site; completion April 2011. Development, purchase and startup of E202 drilling rig. Participation of RAG Austria in new Austrian natural gas exchange. Longest horizontal well drilled by RAG, total length 3500 m. Discovery of Sierning oil field.

2010

Commissioning of final expansion stage of Puchkirchen storage site with a storage volume of 1.1 billion m³. Completion of storage facilities Haidach II, 7Fields I, Aigelsbrunn. The total storage volume operated by RAG is approx. five billion m³. Construction of combined heat and power plant and heat supply of the community of Straßwalchen. 3D seismic surveys conducted in Attergau Ost.

2011

Start to the first non-associated gas production in Bavaria (Assing) since 1996, in cooperation with Bayerngas. Commissioning of a district heating station and network for the municipality of Strasswalchen. Completion of the Haidach II, 7Fields I and Aigelsbrunn gas storage facilities. Total capacity of gas storage facilities operated by RAG reaches five billion cubic metre mark. 

Two shale gas wells spudded by RAG in Poland encounter indications of gas.

Commissioning of geothermal project, undertaken for Bioenergie Neukirchen, which is providing the municipality of Neukirchen with geothermal and biomass district heating.
Official inauguration of 7Fields on 13 October 2011.
October 2011: Formation of MOL-RAG West Kft – a 50:50 joint venture between MOL and RAG – to operate the Inke licence in western Hungary.

2012

First natural gas exploration in Bavaria since 1996