The 70s/80s

Gas as a Solution to the Oil Crisis and the Algerian Gas Pipeline

Eni identifies natural gas as an energy source that can meet the crisis resulting from the first oil embargo.
Agreements signed to import gas from the Soviet Union and the Netherlands. Using a new "gravity" platform Agip discovers and then brings into production the "Loango" field in offshore Congo. Agip drills to a record depth of 5,500 meters at the Malossa field (near Milan) and discovers a new reservoir. The first remote controlled platform is installed by Agip in the "Perla" field, offshore Sicily.

Snam inaugurates the Transmediterranean pipeline, transporting gas from the Hassi-R-Mel field in Algeria to the Po Valley. The more than 2,500 km-long gas pipeline starts in the Algerian desert, crosses Tunisia, the Sicilian Channel (at a water depth of over 650 metres) and proceeds through Sicily and up the length of the entire Italian peninsula.
A new record in offshore drilling at sea-depths of over 800 metres is established with the discovery of a new field in the Otranto Channel. Onshore, a new record is achieved with the discovery of the "Villafortuna" reservoir at a depth of 6,000 metres near Novara in Northern Italy. The new SWACS system, using acoustic signals to operate underwater production valves, is put into operation.

1970 Agreement reached with the Netherlands for the supply of natural gas. Gas imports in Italy reach 12 billion cubic metres.

1971 Agreements signed for gas pipeline construction to transport natural gas from the USSR and the Netherlands. New Agip technology: floating platforms offshore Congo; first Libyan LNG gas arrives at the Panigaglia regassification terminal.

1973 The oil crisis favours the implementation of a policy based on natural gas as an alternative source to meet Italian energy needs. Agreement reached with Algeria for the supply of natural gas.

1976 First remote-controlled platform in Italy for crude oil production at Perla 1 in the Sicily Channel.

1977 Thanks to the technology used by Agip, the Malossa field near Milan, with a formation  pressure of over 1,000 atmospheres, comes into production.

1983 The Transmed starts operations: a 2,200 km long pipeline brings Algerian gas to Italy via Tunisia and across the Sicily Channel.

1984 Agreement with Libya for the exploitation of the Bouri field,  the Mediterranean's largest oil field. Oil  found in the Villafortuna field, Novara, in Italy.

1985 In Nigeria the gas re-injection plant at Obiafu Obrikom starts operation.

1988 Major oil reservoir discovered in the Val d'Agri, Basilicata, Italy.