Surface seeps first attracted attention to industrial exploration for hydrocarbons in 1901. The first major success occurred after passage of the Sicilian petroleum law of 1950; three major structural accumulations have been discovered--Ragusa (1954), Gela (1956), and Gagliano (1960). Recoverable reserves of Ragusa are estimated at 110 million bbl and Gela at 120 million bbl. Although in-place oil at Gela is calculated at 1.2 billion bbl only 10 percent is expected to be recovered. Gagliano reserves are not fully defined although a minimum of 700 Bcf of gas and 20 million bbl of condensate is estimated. Development drilling is still underway at Gagliano and Gela.

Commercial production is limited to the Central Tertiary basin and the Ibelo Mesozoic platform. The Central basin is characterized by a thick series of normally sedimented Pliocene and Miocene clastics interrupted with chaotic gravitational slides. Gagliano produces from multi-pay Miocene-Oligocene sandstones.

The Ibelo platform is represented primarily by carbonate sedimentation, and Ragusa and Gela produce from a thick dolomite of Triassic age.

Volcanic activity which began in the Jurassic continues to the present day and intrusive and extrusive rocks commonly are associated with the producing reservoirs.

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