Hydraulic Conductivity in the Mesozoic Units of the Umbria–Marche Succession (Italy): Insights Towards a Sustainable Management of Carbonate Aquifers Worldwide

Carbonates host valuable groundwater and geo-energy resources in shallow (<0.2 km below groudsurface) and deep (0.2 to 4 km) aquifers, respectively. The hydraulic conductivities of fractured carbonates are unknown at elevated depths (>0.2 km below ground level). To tackle this scenario, the hydraulic conductivity of four Mesozoic units were reviewed in the Umbria–Marche Succession (Italy) due to the large amount of literature available from geothermal exploration and earthquake forecasting. The hydraulic conductivity decreases of three-order (103) of magnitude from 0.1 to 4 km below the groudsurface according to pumping, and tracer tests, and regional flow models. The Calcare Massiccio and Scaglia Bianca formations appear the most and less hydraulically conductive units, respectively. Seismogenic faults were classified as combined conduit–barriers due to the presence of damage zones and cores. Cores were tested in the laboratory, providing low (up to 8.0 × 10−8 m day−1) hydraulic conductivities. The small-scale faults studied at shallow depths (0.2 km) can be classified as karstified conduits according to the dataset. Overall, the review showed that a summary of the hydraulic conductivities of fractured carbonates at a variety of depths find application on the sustainable management of shallow groundwater resources and multiple sectors of the geo-energy industry.