Land subsidence, seismicity and pore pressure monitoring: the new requirements for the future development of oil and gas fields in Italy

The Emilia earthquake of 2012 (Italy) stimulated a controversial debate concerning the possibility that the event could have been induced or triggered by underground fluids production. The public discussion led the Italian Government to issue a protocol of guidelines for the monitoring of microseismic activity, ground deformation and reservoir pore pressure. The guidelines will be put into operation as soon as practicable when licensing is being considered, and all data provided by mining operators must be made available to the relevant Authorities. The implementation of an outreach and communication program to local residents and administrative authorities is prescribed, so that the civil and scientific community at large can gain confidence that operations are being managed optimally.