Structural setting of the Adriatic basin and the main related petroleum exploration plays

Most of the oil and gas resources located within the Adriatic domain are genetically linked to the flexure of the Adria continental margin and to the evolution of the Apennines fold and thrust belt. The source rocks contained in the pre-flexure epi-continental successions reached the maturity window during the flexural subsidence or, alternatively, the flexural accommodating siliciclastic flysch themselves generated and stored hydrocarbons. The petroleum exploration plays of the Adriatic domain are tentatively classified in this paper, according to their geological evolution with respect to the Apennines fold and thrust belt.The description of the geological evolution of these structures and related petroleum plays are described, including plays set in undeformed or poorly deformed foreland areas. A new isochrones map showing the structural setting of the substratum at the level of the Fucoidi Fm. is presented. Several different groups of structures can be recognized in the Adriatic domain, that can be connected to the final phases of deformation of the Apennines, or to the interaction with the Dinarides fold and thrust belt front to the east.

► We constructed a time-structural map of the central Italian sector of the Adriatic Sea.
► We define the main petroleum plays occurring in this area.
► We described these structure with interpreted seismic lines.