Hazard from Endogenous Gas Emissions and Phreatic Explosions in Rome City (Italy)

Abstract

A gas blowout during an unauthorised well drilling occurred on 9 June 2020 at the Rome-Ciampino boundary at the periphery of Colli Albani quiescent volcano. This zone hosts a shallow confined gas-pressured aquifer, which recently produced further three gas blowouts. Dangerous atmospheric CO2 and H2S concentrations killed some birds and 12 families were evacuated. The helium isotopic composition indicates that the gas has a magmatic origin. It rises toward the surface along leaky faults, pressurizing the shallow confined aquifer and creating a permanent gas blowout hazard. Colli Albani volcano is characterized by anomalous uplift, release of magmatic gas and episodic seismic crises. Should a volcanic unrest occur, gas hazard would increase in this densely inhabited zone of Rome city, as the input of magmatic gas into the confined aquifer might create overpressure conditions leading to a harmful phreatic explosion, or increase the emission of hazardous gas through newly created fractures.