Page 33: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (May/Jun 2015)

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Analysis

Ready for

Italy is sitting on sizeable untapped gas resources, yet it still imports a prime time large proportion of its gas. Elaine and Cyprus have been in

Maslin reports from the Ofshore the headlines, albeit more

Mediterranean Conference, Ravenna.

recently due to project can- cellations and geopolitical tension. hastened by low oil prices, the global oil Italy, meanwhile, has the and industry is in something of a pen- ffth largest proved reserves

C sive mood. In Italy, however, the mood of crude oil in Europe with is driven more by an eagerness to open up and 560 MMbo as of 1 January exploit the country’s own resources, particularly 2014, and it is sitting on the offshore. sixth largest gas reserves

Bordering Italy’s in continental Europe (at • Italian gas production is mostly ofshore maritime boundaries, 2.1 Tcf), according to the (67%) and mostly in the Adriatic Sea, accord-

Greece, Croatia and US Energy Information ing to Franco Terlizzese, General Director of the

Montenegro have been Administration. However,

Ministry of Economic Development. encouraging offshore regulatory bureaucracy

In 2014, there were 12 wells drill, eight of • exploration through and drilling bans means which were production wells drilled ofshore. licensing rounds the resources are being left

No exploration wells were drilled.

(Croatia’s frst was underexploited, operators opened last year) and and industry organizations •

Italy has 894 productive wells, 362 of which

Bruno Lescoeur, CEO

Albania, too, has seen complain, and the country is are ofshore. The Italian ofshore has 133

Edison. Photo from Edison.

seismic acquisition the second largest natural ofshore facilities, comprising 106 produc- activities to scope out tion platforms, 11 subsea wellheads, and eight its resources. Major platforms supporting production compression

The standing room only opening plenary session at fnds offshore Israel or connection.

OMC 2015. Photo from OMC. 59% of Italy’s gas reserves are ofshore, 40% • in Zone A, in the northern Adriatic Sea, east of

Venice and Ravenna.

90% of Italy’s oil reserves are onshore, • mostly in Basilicata.

Figures from the Italian Directorate-General for

Mineral and Natural Recourses.

oedigital.com May 2015 | OE 35 035_OE0515_Analysis/inDepth.indd 35 4/20/15 3:45 PM