Exploration Country Focus
Italy
Energy Demand and Hydrocarbon Production
Figure 7. Cumulative discovered reserves (a: gas in the terrigenous foredeep wedges; b: oil and thermogenic gas occurence in the carbonate Mesozoic substratum) Fig. 7 shows the creaming curves of the gas and oil discoveries in Italy. The curve for the gas has a moderate slope until the late fifties, that is until exploration and discoveries were limited to the Northern Apennines and the Po Plain (Caviaga, Cortemaggiore). Then the curve becomes very steep, reflecting a series of successes in the Adriatic Sea (Agostino and Dosso degli Angeli, Barbara), in the Pescara and Bradanica foredeeps (Squalo and Candela respectively), and in Calabria (Luna) and Sicily (Gagliano). From the early eighties onward the curve becomes much less steep, indicating that the gas exploration in Italy is mature and activies are mainly conducted near the existing fields.
The creaming curve for the oil discoveries is remarkably different. After an initial boost with the discoveries in Sicily in the late fifties (Ragusa, Gela), no significant successes were attained until the early seventies when discoveries were made in the deepest carbonate succession of the Po Plain (Malossa) and in the Pescara offshore (Rospo). Two other significant boosts occurred in the eighties (Villafortuna, Aquila, Vega) and in the late eighties / early nineties (Monte Alpi, Tempa Rossa). The curve seems to indicate that oil exploration in Italy has probably not reached as a mature stage as the one for gas. Some further potential is believed to be left in more complex and deep structural scenarios along the Apennines fold-thrust belt.
Italy is one of the most energy demanding countries in Europe. According to Unione Petrolifera (Italian association of the principal oil companies operating in the downstream sector) and to UNMIG (branch of the Italian Ministry of the Economic Development, dedicated to oil&gas upstream activities and to geothermal energy), in 2006 the total consumption of energy amounted to 195.6 Mtep, of which 84.7 Mtep (43%) were from oil, 69.7 Mtep (36%) from gas and 41.2 Mtep (21%) from other sources (net imported electricity, coal, renewables). About 85% of all energy was imported from abroad.
Still in 2006 the national production of oil totalled about 5.8 million tons, three-quarters of which coming from Eni. 75% of the total production came from the Val D’Agri field (Monte Alpi/Cerro Falcone structure, Eni operator with 66% of working interest – Shell partner for the remaining quota). The production is expected to slightly increase in the next years due to new development wells of the Val D’Agri field coming on stream, and to the start of the production in the nearby Tempa Rossa field (Total operator with 50%, Esso and Shell partners with 25% each).
The national production of gas, in 2006, amounted to 11.0 Bcm, continuing the declining trend from the peak of 20.6 Bcm attained in 1994. The today’s production comes from about 110 fields, mostly belonging to Eni and mainly located in the Adriatic Sea and in Sicily.
Overall, the 2006 hydrocarbon production accounted for only 8% (14.9 Mtep) of the Italian energy demand.
In the same year national proven hydrocarbon reserves amounted to 1.6 billion of barrels of oil equivalent, while the yet-to-be-discovered reserves were estimated to range between 1.0 and 2.1 billion boe, with an expected residual life of 14 and 17 years for the gas and the oil respectively.