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Italy
Technology Integration for Islands’ Decarbonisation - The Experience of The Nesoi Project
Bonvicini, Giorgio (RINA Consulting S.p.A.) | Venturin, Alessandro (RINA Consulting S.p.A.) | Peccianti, Francesco (RINA Consulting S.p.A.) | Barberis, Stefano (RINA Consulting S.p.A.) | Montanelli, Alessandra (Sinloc S.p.A.) | Boaretto, Cristina (Sinloc S.p.A.) | Martinez, Andrea (Sinloc S.p.A.)
Abstract The NESOI project, co-funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 programme, is the EU Islands Facility and acts to facilitate islands’ energy transition, offering technical and financial assistance to bring islands’ clean energy projects a step towards their implementation. NESOI, started in October 2019, is achieving significant impacts: the two-round open call received 168 applications from 16 Countries and selected 54 projects from over 60 islands, potentially able to mobilize more than 500 million € of investments and to avoid 420,000 tCO2e of GHG emissions. This large set of projects, either analysed during the proposals’ evaluation process or studied in detail for the provision of technical and financial assistance, constitutes a representative sample of opportunities for energy transition of EU islands. The aim of this paper is to analyse the information available about islands’ features and needs and their energy transition projects, with the target of defining suitable technology integrations and potential couplings between islands and technologies to maximize the decarbonisation impact. Pairings are carried out based on strengths/weaknesses and potential complementarity of technologies and the islands’ needs and availability of resources. As a result, an overall picture is provided describing which technologies can be applied on islands, how they can be combined and which of them will have higher impacts. Finally, the different types of stakeholders that may promote projects related to the technological solutions under analysis are also considered.
- Transportation > Ground > Road (1.00)
- Energy > Renewable > Solar (1.00)
- Energy > Power Industry (1.00)
- Water & Waste Management > Water Management > Lifecycle > Treatment (0.95)
Abstract The Oil & Gas industry is rapidly evolving towards extreme digitalization. Simulations and digital twins are revolutionizing the way we think about the development and deployment of projects, products and services. Indeed, a digital twin is a virtual representation of a real-world physical system or product serving as the indistinguishable digital counterpart for practical purposes, such as system simulation, integration, testing, monitoring, and maintenance. Digital twins are commonly divided into different types. For the purposes of this study, we will refer to “plant” 3D digital twin, which is intended as the digital copy of a plant or worksite, and used for training, construction, maintenance, HAZOPS, and similar purposes. In this paper we present a new methodology combining digital twins and remote learning to improve personnel engagement on site induction training and to speed up well site access process in the Oil & Gas industry. We have designed and realized several well pad areas digital twins of existing Company O&G land rig sites located in Basilicata (Italy) to be used for safety induction and training of personnel and visitors prior to their access to site. The availability of the simulator on a web-based platform, accessible to personnel and visitors via authentication (login/password) from any location with an Internet connection, allows the Company to improve the induction process, avoiding time-consuming briefings at the time of site access. The induction process attended via the web-based immersive training simulator allows trainees to virtually walk-through a 3D reproduction of the Drilling & Workover sites. This builds confidence with a realistic scenario of the well pad area and the equipment used, as well as a complete understanding of the mechanisms involved, of the alarm procedures in case of emergency and of all related risks. The simulator also gives the Company the possibility to monitor the whole training process from its beginning to its completion, and to evaluate the trainees’ final acquired competences.
Abstract TECMA and Baker Hughes have been actively involved in supporting ENI in the development of the “Carbon Capture & Sequestration (CCS) pilot project”. In order to re-use the existing infrastructure for CO2 transportation in CCS Demo project in Ravenna (Italy), the feasibility to insert a new 4” X65 pipeline into an existing 20” X52 pipeline was evaluated. The existing pipeline acts as casing and thus minimizes environmental impact, facilitates permits request, and provides an external extra-protection. The initial request was to get accurate geometrical data from the existing 20” pipeline in order to reuse it as a conductor for the new pipeline pulling project, with particular focus on pipeline routing and bends geometry with the objective to confirm the fit for purpose and to plan the pulling process of the new 4’’ pipeline. TECMA and Baker Hughes were tasked to engineer and provide an “intelligent pig system” as compact and smart as possible capable to characterize the pipeline bends, in terms of minimum bend radius, angle and position, along the overall pipeline route (onshore and offshore). Using the latest ILI technology, TECMA proposed to employ a multi-technology inspection vehicle instead and was able to provide data that helped ENI to re-evaluate the integrity of the existing 20" pipeline and to re-use it as the main CO2 carrier.
Renewable Integration in Off-Grid and Grid-Tie Microgrids
Berizzi, Alberto (Politecnico di Milano) | Merlo, Marco (Politecnico di Milano) | Falabretti, Davide (Politecnico di Milano) | Valentin, Ilea (Politecnico di Milano) | Bovera, Filippo (Politecnico di Milano) | Rancilio, Giuliano (Politecnico di Milano) | Vicario, Andrea (Politecnico di Milano) | Dimovski, Aleksandar (Politecnico di Milano) | Gulotta, Francesco (Politecnico di Milano) | Nebuloni, Riccardo (Politecnico di Milano) | Spiller, Matteo (Politecnico di Milano) | Daccò, Edoardo (Politecnico di Milano)
Abstract The paper focuses on the integration of renewable energy sources in a microgrid, examining both stand-alone and grid-connected configurations. In the literature, the generation portfolio is typically designed only considering the energy balance constraints, mostly evaluated only over hourly power samples. Given the increasingly important role that microgrids are expected to cover, the issue of microgrid design is explored, and in particular, microgrid stability and performance criteria are introduced to motivate the need for more technically sound approaches. Finally, a simple real-life example, related to an Italian geographical island, is proposed to show how Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) could support the microgrid stability incrementally to the simple hourly energy balance contribution.
- Energy > Renewable (1.00)
- Energy > Power Industry (1.00)
An Amphibious Drone for Aerial, Surface, and Underwater Assets and Environmental Remote Monitoring To Support the Sustainability of Unmanned Offshore Converted Platform
Miozza, Luigi (EniProgetti S.p.A.) | Schiavon, Riccardo (EniProgetti S.p.A.) | Grasso, Tiberio (EniProgetti S.p.A.) | Cacace, Jonathan (Neabotics) | Paduano, Gianmarco (Neabotics) | Pierro, Fabio (Neabotics) | Lippiello, Vincenzo (Neabotics) | Speranza, Davide (Eni S.p.A.) | Giuggioli, Alessandro (Eni S.p.A.) | Vignali, Andrea (Eni S.p.A.) | Dell'Anno, Antonio (Università Politecnica delle Marche)
Abstract The PLaCE project aims at investigating technologies and solutions for the eco-sustainable reuse of offshore platforms at the end of their production phase. In this context, robotic mobile solutions that allow in a versatile way to monitor the activities by acquiring environmental data and parameters in the area of interest have been explored. This paper presents a new solution based on the development of the proof-of-concept of a robotic technology concerning a hybrid Autonomous / Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (A/RPAS), hereinafter referred to as Amphibious Drone, operating in complete autonomy and having offshore platform as an operational base. The Amphibious Drone is developed to cover the entire area of interest surrounding the platform being converted, with the ability to perform measurements and observations of the sea surface during aerial overflight as well as to measure the main physical, chemical and biological parameters along the water column by the deployment of sensor equipped probes for measuring underwater when it lands on the sea surface. To do so, a wide range of probes and instruments have been integrated into the system such as multispectral camera, Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR), Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD). The whole management of the Amphibious Drone, as regards the shelter between missions, battery recharging, data exchange, required reconfigurations and missions scheduling is performed by a specific designed Docking Station. The PLaCE project is co-funded by the European Union within the National Operational Programme for ‘‘Research and Innovation’’ 2014-2020.
- Aerospace & Defense (0.89)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (0.70)
- Government > Regional Government > Europe Government (0.48)
- Information Technology > Communications > Networks (1.00)
- Information Technology > Artificial Intelligence > Robots > Autonomous Vehicles > Drones (0.94)
ABSTRACT: This paper presents a provocative discussion on the subject of rock bridges and, by extension, on the topic of rock mass strength. We believe that there cannot be innovation in rock engineering if we are not open to looking at problems from a different perspective, even though that means abandoning practices that are considered industry standards for better or worse. The Bologna Interpretation of rock bridges states that one can only know where a rock bridge is once one measures it. And to measure it, you need the rock mass to fail. This interpretation highlights the indeterministic nature of rock bridges: they become real only when we look at them. Before failure, there are no actual rock bridges, only potential rock bridges which exist everywhere at once. INTRODUCTION Rock bridges play a crucial role in supporting and maintaining the stability of slopes and underground excavations. However, there is currently a lack of understanding about accurately defining and consequently measuring rock bridges. Sixty years have passed since Terzaghi first looked at this problem in 1962. Since then, a combination of simple laboratory experiments and imperfect geometrical conceptualisation has confused the definition of rock bridges. In the author's opinion, to solve the problem of rock bridges, we need first to address the issue of what is real and what has the potential to be real. We propose a novel and thought-provoking perspective on rock bridges that incorporates concepts and ideas from various disciplines, including philosophy and quantum mechanics. The physicist Nils Bohr once stated that "everything we call real is made of something we cannot real". Similarly, rock bridges are intangible entities that collectively shape rock mass behaviour. For example, we know rock bridges must exist for the rock arch presented in Figure 1 to remain stable. However, there are limits to how much information we can gather about this rock mass that would confirm the extent and location of the rock bridges (e.g. compare photos from 2002 and 2022 in Figure 1). We conclude that before failure, rock bridges only exist as potential features throughout the rock mass. In the literature, rock bridge strength is considered independent of rock mass strength. In reality, rock bridge strength is a manifestation of rock mass strength. This misinterpretation can lead to inaccuracies in understanding the stability and behaviour of rock masses and can result in improper design and assessment of rock engineering projects (Elmo et al., 2022a). For instance, the approach put forth by Jennings (1970, 1972) reflects a perspective that views rock bridges and rock bridge strength as equivalent continuum problems without proper consideration for damage processes. More importantly, Jennings (1970, 1972) ignored the comment made by Terzaghi (1962) concerning the impossibility of measuring rock bridges. They based their methodology on the imperfect 2D definition of rock bridges as the portion of intact rock separating intermittent joints. There is no doubt that rock bridges exist. However, the concept of intact rock bridges presented in the literature needs to be revised, starting with addressing one fundamental question: what are rock bridges?
- North America > United States (1.00)
- Europe > Italy > Emilia-Romagna > Bologna > Bologna (0.63)
Instability Phenomena Affecting the Cultural Heritage Cave of Antro Della Sibilla (Cuma, Italy)
Spizzichino, Daniele (Geological Survey of Italy, ISPRA, Italy) | Guarino, Paolo Maria (Geological Survey of Italy, ISPRA, Italy) | Leoni, Gabriele (Geological Survey of Italy, ISPRA, Italy) | Diletto, Milena (GP Ingegneria Srl, Italy) | Lusini, Edoardo (DICAM, University of Bologna, Italy) | Pagano, Fabio (Parco Archeologico dei Campi Flegrei, Italy) | Salvadori, Marida (Parco Archeologico dei Campi Flegrei, Italy) | Boldini, Daniela (DICMA, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy)
ABSTRACT: The present work aims at the analysis of localized instability phenomena affecting the archaeological site of the Sibilla Antro. The cave was excavated by Greek colonists in the formation of Neapolitan Yellow Tuff, a pyroclastic weak rock. This rock is naturally fractured and weakly stratified: for these reasons local instability phenomena occurred along the whole extent of the Antro, worsened by the deterioration of past remediation interventions by passive dowels in the 1980s. Based on a geomechanical field survey and a laboratory characterization of the rock material, a 2D numerical model of the most threatened section was implemented to assess the stress concentration points and the current stability conditions. A proposal is also made for possible low impact measures for safeguard and conservation purposes. INTRODUCTION This paper is the outcome of a collaboration between ISPRA (Geological Survey of Italy) and the Phlegraean Fields Archaeological Park, with the support of Sapienza University of Roma and University of Bologna. It aims at the analysis of localized instability phenomena affecting the archaeological site of Sibilla Antro and at the proposal of mitigation by low impact measures. The anthropogenic rupestrian cave (Figure 1) is in the archaeological site of Cuma, which extends along the northern coast of Campania region, about 20 km north-west of Naples city. The cave was excavated by Greek colonists in the formation of Neapolitan Yellow Tuff, a pyroclastic weak rock with fragments of magmatic glass, lava scoriae and pumices. The tunnel has a trapezoidal shape in the upper part (an anti-seismic stratagem used by the Greeks) and rectangular in the lower part, this latter being the result of the lowering of the walking surface during the Augustan period. In the same period several transversal openings were excavated with the aim of illuminating the tunnel, exchanging air of the environment and reaching the external terrace on which war machines were located. The whole structure is 131 meters long, 5 high and 2.5 wide (Figure 1).
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline > Volcanology (1.00)
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline > Geomechanics (1.00)
ABSTRACT: A major problem that may arise during the excavation of deep tunnels is the incidence of brittle failure of rock, induced by the stress release in a particularly heavy natural state of stress. The severe energy release is often associated to rapid fracturing and to projection of rock blocks inside the opening, phenomena commonly referred to as spalling or rockburst, which endanger personnel and equipment. Thus, the proper prediction of the occurrence of brittle failure is paramount in underground excavations. This paper presents the application of a new rock brittleness index based on the response of two mechanical models of rock damage, which allows the estimation of the proneness to brittle failure of rock around deep tunnels. For this purpose, the competition between ductile and brittle failure is analyzed. The calculation and usage of the index is described considering a real case study of brittle failure in a deep tunnel. INTRODUCTION One of the main criticalities while excavating deep tunnels in rock masses subjected to heavy natural stress states is brittle failure of the rock mass. This kind of failure usually appears as a rapid fracturing of the material, in combination with massive releases of the energy stored during the deformation due to the excavation, and the dangerous projection of rock blocks inside the opening (Cai, 2013; Diederichs, 2007; Gong et al., 2020). In less violent cases, slabbing and spalling phenomena occur, while more violent cases are usually referred to as rockbursts. The projection of rock blocks inside the opening is usually characterized by velocities up to 6 m/s, while small fragments can reach velocities of about 50 m/s (He et al., 2022). Hence, these sudden failure phenomena can induce delays, economic losses, collapses, damage to equipments and, sometimes, casualties (Chen et al., 2021; Mazaira & Konicek, 2015).
ABSTRACT: The geo-uncertainty of underground projects most often leads to differences between foreseen and encountered geo-conditions. Dealing with this uncertainty is a major challenge as it often raises claims and complex contractual problems mostly related to the construction programme. Over the last years, contract management tools have been developed in order to manage this risk. One of the key aspects for the successful delivery is the elaboration of a mechanism to adjust the time for completion. The clear allocation of duties and risks between the Employer and the Contractor, together with its proper integration in the contractual frame-work, play a crucial role. This paper presents cases of implementation of such a contractual mechanism in several Countries, standard forms and excavation methods together with the comparison with the FIDIC standard. INTRODUCTION In order to control the costs and construction times for underground constructions, a risk management approach is considered a necessity (ITA/AITES, 2004; Marulanda and Neuenschwander, 2019). The difficulty of predicting ground behaviour and unforeseen conditions imply a degree of uncertainty for tunnelling projects, leading to particular and unique risks. A recent analysis of a database of 11,000 tunnel projects (W. Siganto, 2019) highlighted that underground projects are characterized by a 90% probability of a 33% project cost overrun and a 23% project time overrun regardless of the risk assessments made by the project protagonists. For a balanced contract it is important to clearly allocate risks to the parties, and for them to account for their liabilities. An unbalanced risk allocation can lead to litigation, escalation of project costs delays that are not contractually manageable. As it can be seen on Figure 1, unbalanced risk allocation, whether it is towards the Contractor or the Employer, will increase the cost of a project (Ertl, 2019). The specification and operation of risk management tools change for each project and country. The previously available FIDIC contract forms, in particular the Red, Yellow and Silver Books, do not include specific provisions related to underground conditions, other than the "Unforeseeable Physical Conditions" Sub-Clause. The recent FIDIC-Emerald-Book (FIDIC, 2019) was prepared to support such a balanced risk allocation approach, whereas the Employer retains the ground related risk and the Contractor is responsible for the performance related risk for defined ground conditions (Figure 1).
- Transportation > Ground > Rail (0.95)
- Energy > Oil & Gas (0.69)
Borehole Stability in Geothermal Reservoirs – A Combined Laboratory and Numerical Approach
Mattheis, Justin (Chair of Engineering Geology, Technical University of Munich, Germany) | Drexl, Catharina (Chair of Engineering Geology, Technical University of Munich, Germany) | Potten, Martin (Chair of Engineering Geology, Technical University of Munich, Germany) | Stockinger, Georg (Chair of Engineering Geology, Technical University of Munich, Germany) | Thuro, Kurosch (Chair of Engineering Geology, Technical University of Munich, Germany)
ABSTRACT: Despite the well-known geothermal potential in the North Alpine Foreland Basin, large scale exploration is still limited by the economic risk of well instabilities originating from inadequate prediction of the heterogeneous rock mass conditions in the reservoir. One decisive factor is the rocks toughness against fracture propagation. Hence, analogs to the reservoir rocks are subject to Semi-circular Bend tests to determine the required energy for tensile fractures (mode I) and accordingly Double-edge Notched Brazilian Disk tests for shear fractures (mode II). The subsequent finite-discrete numerical simulations, in which the experimental results are implemented, show varying fracture patterns in the rock mass caused by drilling. The fracturing depends on the rock type, the pre-existing discontinuities, and the stresses in up to 5 km depth. Further expansion of this investigation to other scenarios and rock types, paired with a reliable geological prediction, reduces the associated risks for deep geothermal projects. INTRODUCTION In the metropolitan area of Munich, the well-known hydrothermal reservoir in the North Alpine Foreland Basin (NAFB) provides a suitable renewable source for domestically and industrially demanded heat (Agemar et al. 2014). However, the heterogeneity of the reservoir is widely known and causes different hydraulic and mechanical properties of the rock mass. Increasing the understanding of subsurface processes is therefore a crucial task to significantly expand the share of geothermal heat supply in the heating sector. Besides the acting stress conditions, the geomechanical behavior of these deep wells is highly dependent on mechanical rock mechanical properties like strength, elastic behavior, and internal friction parameters. Furthermore, the pre-existing joints and faults in the rock mass, henceforth referred to as "discrete fracture network" (DFN), influence the rock mass behavior significantly with their roughness and their frictional and cohesive properties (Stockinger 2022; Zoback 2010). STUDY AREA: THE UPPER JURASSIC RESERVOIR IN THE NAFB The Upper Jurassic sedimentary rocks are considered an important aquifer due to their permeable, fluid-bearing, and deep rocks, within the NAFB in the south of Germany. They consist of predominantly marine limestones, marls, and dolomites. Based on different characteristics, the Upper Jurassic carbonates are usually divided into a massive reef facies and a stratified basin facies (Meyer & Schmidt-Kaler 1989). After deposition of the Mesozoic sediments, the complicated tectonic processes of the Alpine orogenesis formed a trough filled with debris from the Alps and the Bohemian Massif (Lemcke 1973). Due to the southwards increasing overburden of Tertiary sediments, the Upper Jurassic Carbonates now dip from north to south towards the Alps and can be found at depths of up to 4,500 m (Agemar et al. 2014). At this depth, the geothermal gradient causes rock and fluid temperatures of up to 140 °C (Agemar et al. 2014).
- Europe > Switzerland (1.00)
- Europe > France (1.00)
- Europe > Austria (1.00)
- (2 more...)
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline > Geomechanics (1.00)
- Geology > Structural Geology > Tectonics > Compressional Tectonics > Fold and Thrust Belt (0.45)
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate Rock > Dolomite (0.35)
- Europe > Switzerland > Alpine Foreland Basin (0.99)
- Europe > Italy > Alpine Foreland Basin (0.99)
- Europe > France > Alpine Foreland Basin (0.99)
- (5 more...)