Generally speaking, the Mediterranean basins have a relatively flat and uniform bottom, with water depths of 2,800 to 3,000 m (9,190 to 9,840 ft). There are several major exceptions: the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Aegean Sea are internal parts of the Alpine orogenies, with a back-arc type of stretched structure. The Ionian Sea shows gradual northward slopes, while the Eastern basin occupies a typical external position with the front of the Hellenic and Tauric nappes and the external overthrust zone known as the Mediterranean Rise.

The main petroleum exploration objectives are the Oligocene and Miocene series, deposited during and after the main orogenic phases, and covered by thick, Messinian evaporites and Pliocene-Pleistocene marine sediments. Below the Ionian Sea, the Mediterranean Rise, and the Eastern basin, Mesozoic and Paleogene series may be seen as possible targets. The zone at the shelf limit of the African Platform and the Alpine chains resembles many of the productive areas around the globe.

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