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Eurobuilding SpA, Servigliano, Italy
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- PublicationOpen AccessThe Marsili Seamount Offshore Geothermal Reservoir: A Big Challenge for an Energy Transition Model(2022)
; ; ; ; ; ; ;; ; ; ;Renewable energies have been the only sources recording a clear increase in total installed capacity, setting a record in new power capacity in 2020, despite the pandemic. The European Union Green Deal represents a strategy towards a sustainable economic model. In this framework, land-based geothermics has seen very limited development; however, offshore geothermics is almost completely absent in the discussion on energy source alternatives, even though it represents a real challenge for energy transition, including the production of green hydrogen. This article discusses an excursus on the activities carried out on offshore geothermal areas worldwide. We focused on the energy potential capacity of the Marsili volcanic seamount located over the bathial plain of the Tyrrhenian Basin, describing the detailed geological, geochemical, and geophysical investigations that have been carried out on that seamount since the 2000s. All the collected data have shown evidence supporting the existence of an exploitable geothermal system in the Marsili seamount consisting of a reservoir of supercritical geothermal fluids of about 100 km3. We discuss and evaluate the actual consistence of the impacts associated with the occurrence of potential risks. We also describe the necessary further steps towards the pilot well. An important breakthrough in the short-medium term that allows for an exit from the predominance of fossil sources may come from the development of energy production derived from offshore high-enthalpy geothermal fields, especially in areas such as the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea. There is a natural clear predisposition for its exploitation combined with a low ecological footprint, which is the target objective of international agreements in the context of a blue economy strategy.59 32 - PublicationRestrictedFirst documented deep submarine explosive eruptions at the Marsili Seamount (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy): A case of historical volcanism in the Mediterranean Sea(2014)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;Iezzi, G.; Uni Chieti ;Caso, C.; Uni Chieti ;Ventura, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Vallefuoco, M.; IAMC Napoli ;Cavallo, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Beherens, H.; Uni Hannover ;Mollo, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Paltrinieri, D.; Eurobuilding ;Signanini, P.; Uni Chieti ;Vetere, F.; Uni Chieti; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; The Marsili Seamount (MS) is an about 3200 m high volcanic complex measuring 70 × 30 km with the top at ~500 m b.s.l. MS is interpreted as the ridge of the 2 Ma old Marsili back-arc basin belonging to the Calabrian Arc–Ionian Sea subduction system(Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). Previous studies indicate that theMS activity developed between 1 and 0.1 Ma through effusions of lava flows. Here, new stratigraphic, textural, geochemical, and 14C geochronological data from a 95 cm long gravity core (COR02) recovered at 839 m bsl in theMS central sector are presented. COR02 contains mud and two tephras consisting of 98 to 100 area% of volcanic ash. The thickness of the upper tephra (TEPH01) is 15 cm, and that of the lower tephra (TEPH02) is 60 cm. The tephras have poor to moderate sorting, loose to partly welded levels, and erosive contacts, which imply a short distance source of the pyroclastics. 14C dating on fossils above and below TEPH01 gives an age of 3 ka BP. Calculations of the sedimentation rates from the mud sediments above and between the tephras suggest that a formation of TEPH02 at 5 ka BP MS ashes has a high-K calcalkaline affinity with 53 wt.% b SiO2 b 68 wt.%, and their composition overlaps that of the MS lava flows. The trace element pattern is consistent with fractional crystallization from a common, OIB-like basalt. The source area of ashes is the central sector of MS and not a subaerial volcano of the Campanian and/or Aeolian Quaternary volcanic districts. Submarine, explosive eruptions occurred atMS in historical times: this is the first evidence of explosive volcanic activity at a significant (500–800 m bsl) water depth in the Mediterranean Sea.MS is still active, the monitoring and an evaluation of the different types of hazards are highly recommended.376 87 - PublicationRestrictedGeochemical features of the gas phase extracted from sea-water and rocks of the Marsili seamount (Tyrrhenian sea, Italy): implications for geothermal exploration projects(2011-11-29)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;Italiano, Francesco; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia ;Caso, Carlo; D.I.G.A.T., Università G. D’Annunzio, Chieti, Italy ;Cavallo, Andrea; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Favali, Paolo; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia ;Fu, Chen; NTU, National Technical University, Taipei, Taiwan ;Iezzi, Gianluca; D.I.G.A.T., Università G. D’Annunzio, Chieti, Italy ;Martelli, Mauro; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia ;Mollo, Silvio; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;Paltrinieri, Diego; Eurobuilding SpA, Servigliano, Italy ;Paonita, Antonio; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia ;Rizzo, Andrea; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia ;Signanini, Patrizio; D.I.G.A.T., Università G. D’Annunzio, Chieti, Italy ;Ventura, Guido; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;Hilton, David; Scripps Institution, La Jolla, CaliforniaA new target for worldwide geothermal exploration and exploitation is represented by the submarine hydrothermal activity. A geologically young (Upper Pliocene – Pleistocene) area in the Tyrrhenian sea, on the west shore of Italy, provides important heat sources from some seamounts. The heat flow data are characterized by positive anomalies comparable to those of onshore geothermal fields. A geothermal exploration program of the Marsili seamount, the largest volcanic edifice (~30 km in length) in Europe, suggests the presence of a geothermal activity testified by oxy- and hydroxide-deposits predominantly made up of Fe- and Mn-rich sediments, crusts and nodules. Several rock samples of Marsili volcanic activity were collected during dredging and coring projects. These rocks are lavas, pillows and dikes with a calc–alkaline affinity and ranging in composition from basalt to andesite to trachy-andesite. Some tephra layers were also sampled at the top of the volcano showing shoshonitic to latitic bulk compositions and variable amounts of crystals. Importantly, isotopic ratios of noble gases extracted from selected solid samples have provided novel constrains on the Marsili magmatism. In November 2007 and July 2011, water-column studies were carried out aboard of the R/V Urania and Astrea. Isotope analyses of the gases dissolved in water samples collected at the top the Marsili have evidenced that the He/4He isotope ratio, i.e. a clear indicator of hydrothermal input, is in excess with respect to the background and it is also associated with the anomalous behaviour of hydrothermal-derived gases (CO2, CO, CH4). Although some hydrothermal emissions are known to occur offshore the Aeolian subaerial volcanoes, results from our isotope analyses are the first to confirm the hydrothermal activity of Marsili. The highest 3He values were measured over the shallowest part of the seamount, where hydroxide deposits were found. The chemical composition of the dissolved gases clearly shows the presence of CO2 and CH4 over a wide water column depth range. The same anomalies were found in 2007 and 2011, depicting the presence of a persistent plume related to the deep hydrothermal activity of Marsili. A high heat flow (250 mW/m2) is measured at the uppermost portion of the volcano, reaching the maximum value (500 mW/m2) in the central parts. It coincides with gravity and magnetic anomalies, suggesting the presence of magmatic bodies intruding within shallow and thinned crustal levels. Although direct thermal measurements on the Marsili seamount are still lacking, our results give important constraints on the submarine volcanic and hydrothermal activity. Moreover, they support an ongoing project (carried out by Eurobuilding SpA company on the Italian Minister of Economic Development permission) aimed to drill the first offshore geothermal well at the top of the seamount that may potentially represent one of the most abundant energy resources worldwide; this mainly in response to the large amount and virtually infinite recharge of the circulating fluids. To conclude, it is worth noting that besides the scientific information concerning the geothermal activity, the technologies available at the present time will permit on-site geothermal exploitation and 68 production of electric energy (~1 GW) from a seamount located at ~100 km far from the Italian coasts.324 30