Sudden deep gas eruption nearby Rome's airport of Fiumicino

Abstract

On 24 August 2013 a sudden gas eruption from the ground occurred in the Tiber river delta, nearby Rome's international airport of Fiumicino. We assessed that this gas, analogous to other minor vents in the area, is dominantly composed of deep, partially mantle‐derived CO2, as in the geothermal gas of the surrounding Roman Comagmatic Province. Increased amounts of thermogenic CH4 are likely sourced from Meso‐Cenozoic petroleum systems, overlying the deep magmatic fluids. We hypothesize that the intersection of NE‐SW and N‐S fault systems, which at regional scale controls the location of the Roman volcanic edifices, favors gas uprising through the impermeable Pliocene and deltaic Holocene covers. Pressurized gas may temporarily be stored below these covers or within shallower sandy, permeable layers. The eruption, regardless the triggering cause—natural or man‐made, reveals the potential hazard of gas‐charged sediments in the delta, even at distances far from the volcanic edifices.

Gas blowout from shallow boreholes near Fiumicino International Airport (Rome): Gas origin and hazard assessment

“…The δ 13 C CO2 of the offshore and CdM gases (− 1.7 to − 1.2‰ vs. PDB) is similar to other CO 2 -dominated gas manifestations of the area and interpreted by many authors as due to mantle/magma degassing and/or limestone thermometamorphism (see Introduction). In contrast to Ciotoli et al (2013), who suggested that CdM methane has a dominant thermogenic component, we think that methane at CdM, as well as at Canale Vignole site, is the result of a mixing, in different proportions, between: 1) abiogenic methane released from geothermal and volcanichydrothermal reservoirs (Tassi et al, 2012) and similar to that discharged at Palidoro; and 2) microbially produced methane similar to the offshore gas.…”

“…The isotopic data of CdM methane (δ 13 C CH4 −46.2 to −51.5‰ vs. PDB; δD CH4 −184.7 to −202‰ vs. SMOW) (Fig. 9) are similar to those published by Ciotoli et al (2013).…”

“…The onshore blowout episode has been already discussed in different studies; the characterization of CdM gas, collected in two days, and relation with tectonics are reported by Ciotoli et al (2013); the geological and hydrological context of the area has been described by Sella et al (2014) who, however, do not report any direct analytical data of the CdM gas emission.…”

Geophysical and geochemical techniques to assess the origin of rising damp of a Roman building (Ostia Antica archaeological site)

“…Moreover, the area has been subject to a complex and long-lasting interaction of geomorphic factors [30], and also characterised by the presence of two Quaternary volcanoes (e.g. Mts Sabatini and Alban Hills) responsible of surface manifestations of CO 2 -rich gas [24,32]. The town of Ostia was powered by wells, but also pressurized water was supplied, as we can argue from the external evidences (fistulae, traces inside buildings along Decumano).…”

A way to hydrothermal paroxysm, Colli Albani volcano, Italy

“…Moreover, in the last years, accidental gas blowouts have occurred during shallow well drillings in the western sector of the volcano, showing the presence of gas-pressurized aquifers confi ned under shallow impermeable horizons (Barberi et al, 2007;Ciotoli et al, 2013;Sella et al, 2014). The hydrothermal processes discussed in this paper after the study of a fossil system in the Zolforata di Pomezia area (Fig.…”