Malossa field: a deep discovery in the Po Valley, Italy

Abstract

The Malossa condensate gas field was discovered in the Po basin of Italy, 15 mi (24 km) east of Milan. The basin is located in a depression between the Alps and Apennines, and opens eastward to the Adriatic Sea. Malossa production comes from a section ranging from Triassic to Quaternary in age; deepest production to date has been the Malossa 2 well, which reached a depth of 21,230 ft (6,471 m) and bottomed in the Middle Triassic Carnian dolomites of the Ensino Formation. The main pay zones of the Malossa field are in the "Dolomia Principale" of Noric age, and are part of the Liassic Zandobbio Formation. Geological history is described along with the structural setting of the Po basin. Stratigraphy is described, citing Middle Triassic through Quaternary and mentioning fossil occurence as a criteria for identification. The Malossa structure was detected with seismic survey, and velocity information is given. Reservoir characteristics are given for the Zandobbio and Haupt Dolomite formations, and reserves are discussed.