Evaluation of tsunamigenic hazard through numerical modeling from seismic and non-seismic sources in the Crotone offshore (Calabria, Southern Italy)

Tsunamis in the Mediterranean Sea can be considered among the major sources of hazard, both for the extension of the area that can be involved by the water impact and for the closeness of potential sources to the coast, which reduces dramatically the alert and evacuation time. Moreover, landslides, as other non-seismic tsunami sources, are often characterized by a lack of precursors (such as seismic shaking), a reason for which the ensuing waves are sometimes called “surprise tsunamis”

Soil deformation analysis through fluid-dynamic modelling and DInSAR measurements: a focus on groundwater withdrawal in the Ravenna area (Italy)

This study aims at assessing the deformation processes affecting an area NW of the city of Ravenna (northern Italy), caused by groundwater withdrawal activities. In situ data, geologic and structural maps, piezometric measurements, underground water withdrawal volumes, and satellite C-band SAR data were used to jointly exploit two different techniques: 1) fluid-dynamic and geomechanical modelling (by RSE S.p.A), and 2) Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (DInSAR) analysis (by CNR - IREA). The results of the comparative analysis presented in this work brought new evidence about the contribution of groundwater withdrawal to the total subsidence affecting the area during the 2000-2017 time interval. In particular, they show an increase of the subsidence from year 2000 to 2010 and a decrease from year 2010 to 2017. These results are generally in line with groundwater withdrawal data that report a reduction of the extracted water volumes during the considered temporal interval. Meantime, they show a delay effect in the subsidence process, partially recovered during the 2010-2017 thanks to a stabilisation of the extracted groundwater volumes. The presented results shade new light on the groundwater withdrawal contribution to the subsidence of the analysed zone, although further investigations are foreseen to better clarify the ongoing scenario

Neogene-Quaternary evolution of the offshore sector of the Southern Apennines accretionary wedge, Gulf of Taranto, Italy

Southern Apennines represent a collisional orogenic belt whose compressional regime is commonly assumed to have ceased during Middle Quaternary. On the other hand, to the south the Calabria Arc is still characterized by subduction and the principal aim of the present research is to shed some light on the space and time transition from the ceased collision to the active subduction. Accordingly, we investigated the offshore sector of the Southern Apennines accretionary wedge, corresponding to the Taranto Gulf. To gain insights into the offshore accretionary wedge, we reconstructed a 3D geological and tectonic model by interpreting a grid of 40 seismic reflection lines (1100 km, 80 intersections), within an area of ca. 104 km2, calibrated with 17 wells. The geometric and chronological constraints allow to document a systematic Messinian-Quaternary thrust migration from internal towards external sectors of the wedge. The migrating deformational process was essentially associated with a leading-imbricate thrust system with a general NE-younging direction, where we could recognize and distinguish some major advancing phases characterized by alternating fast thrust propagation events and strain accumulation periods within the wedge. This process is well emphasized by the jump of the foredeep and piggy-back basins. The NE-wards wedge migration was also associated with a lithospheric-scale flexural folding that generated a set of normal faults striking parallel to the coeval thrusts, likely reactivating optimally oriented structures inherited from Mesozoic events. Finally, a persisting thrust activity up to the latest Quaternary and possibly up to Present in correspondence of the externalmost sector of the accretionary wedge has been documented and explained in terms of strain partitioning in the frame of a recent oblique convergence. The results of this research have possible implications for the seismic hazard assessment of the broader region which is possibly greater than previously assumed

Guidelines for the Environmental Monitoring of Oil and Gas Industry in Italy: Seismic, Ground Deformation and Reservoir Pressure Measurements

Today, HSE issues, environmental conservation and social acceptance are paramount in all industrial sectors. In particular, the social and environmental impact of E&P industry must be wisely evaluated and monitored. Following this direction, the Italian Oil & Gas Safety Authority (DGS-UNMIG, a Directorate General of the Ministry of Economic Development) issued a new set of monitoring guidelines for future licensing and E&P operations in Italy. After the seismic sequence of May 2012 in Northern Italy, a public discussion pointed out that these earthquakes could have been related to possible \u201canthropogenic\u201d causes, i.e., a seismic activity induced or triggered by underground fluids withdrawal. For this reason, the Italian Department of Civil Protection appointed an independent international scientific commission to evaluate all available geoscience data to shed light on this hypotesis. In particular, three production fields, located near the epicenters of the seismic sequence, were closely examined: 1) a geothermal field; 2) an underground natural gas storage field; 3) a mature oilfield with reinjection. According to the conclusions of the above International Commission, the National Oil & Gas Safety Authority issued a new document of monitoring guidelines. In particular, future E&P operations in Italy must be complemented by properly designed monitoring networks aimed at controlling the: a) seismic activity; b) ground deformation; c) reservoir pressure. The monitoring networks must be implemented as soon as practicable when licensing is granted, in order to evaluate prior local seismicity and ground deformation with a sufficient accuracy. Moreover, monitored data must be made available to the safety Authorities, and thorough informative actions to residents and stakeholders must be properly carried out. The paper illustrates the above guidelines, the recent agreements signed with the Emilia-Romagna Regional Government and the present monitoring performed at selected Italian pilot test sites, according to the indications contained in the abovementioned guidelines

lng loading/downloading and circular economy: the opportunities related to the new legislation and the reuse of oil & gas platforms

knowledge about the possible re-use of hydrocarbon platforms, at the end of their useful life, as the base for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) loading and downloading of ships. This objective, in line with the main national strategic objectives (National Energy Strategy- SEN, 2013) for the promotion of the energy mix and decarbonisation, could be a great opportunity for the Country, considering the role that natural gas will play in the coming years and, particularly, the opening up of the world market to the LNG. At the same time, as the economic interest, the prospect of re-use of existing hydrocarbon offshore platforms is made even more attractive also for its answer to other social and environmental thematic addressed by European policies mainly through choices of Circular Economy (Action Plan UE, 2015), Blue Growth and safety of mining activity in terms of platform removal. This goal is the forefront, but the concrete potential is still marginally dealt due to the new legislation (Legislative Decree no. 257 of 16 December 2016) which is not yet matched by adequate economic feasibility studies in Italy. This document will illustrate the regulatory developments that have taken place in these months for the possible conversion of oil&gas platforms for the LNG loading and downloading

Steps forward and open issues on the reduction of the risks related to hydrocarbon production and gas storage: the Italian experience from the viewpoint of two governmental administrations

This paper shows how mature and consolidated scientific outcomes and the increased awareness on the risks related to the hydrocarbon production and gas storage have brought European and national governments to develop new regulations, decrees, and guidelines informed by high-level scientific contents. To do this, the Italian experience from 2012 to present is described from the viewpoint of two governmental administrations, i.e., the Ministry of the Economic Development and the National Civil Protection Department. A fruitful interaction among research institutes, universities, and public administrations has accompanied this long activity phase. It includes, among other things, the constitution of working groups, the development of regulatory guidelines, their testing in pilot case studies, the constitution of a technical–scientific network for the offshore safety (CLYPEA). Within this collaboration, common goals are pursued with a coordinated approach by the ministry and the department, optimizing therefore the achievement of common goals