RESEARCH / DEVELOPMENT / TECHNOLOGY PIPELINE TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 45 Figure 14: A small pin-hole leakage due to corrosion (left) and the experimental setup to monitor a segment of the pipeline during the hydraulic test. Even very small leaks still create a distinguishable source of vibro-acoustic noise, which can be detected and localized. Figure 15: Correlation processing to localize the point of leakage Such capability has been proved to work effectively both in liquids and gases, saving considerable effort to locate the leak location. Authors Marco Marino SolAres srl CEO marco.marino@e-vpms.com Fabio Chiappa SolAres srl Research Manager fabio.chiappa@e-vpms.com Giuseppe Giunta Eni SpA Technical Authority giuseppe.giunta@eni.com Figure 16: An earthquake occurred in 2019 in Albania was sensed by the six e-vpms® sensors installed on pipeline in the northern Italy cost-effective, fully integrated with the existing equipment and therefore ideal for retrofitting existing transport lines both onshore and offshore. The recent evolutions of the system, as described in [12], allow to follow a data-driven approach to the solution of many problems related to pipe- line transportation, maintenance, and operational issues. The e-vpms® system and its technology family, can thus be used not just for intervention after threat detection, but also for prevention, up to predictive maintenance capabili- ties. References 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Performance of European cross-country oil pipelines. Statistical summary of reported spillages in 2015 and since 1971 (2017), CONCAWE Report, Brussel, June 2017. Dalmazzone, G. M., De Lorenzo, G., Giunta G., 2016, System and method for the continuous detection of impacts on pipelines for the transportation of fluids, particularly suitable for under- water pipelines, ENI S.p.A, Patent US9267648B2 (2016), EP2483656B1 (2017). Giunta, G., Bernasconi, G., 2017a, Method and system for continuous remote monitoring of the integrity of pressurized pipelines and properties of the fluids transported, Patent EP2936106B1 (2017), US10401254B2 (2019). Giunta, G., Bernasconi, G., 2017b, Method and system for the remote detection of the position of a pig device inside a pressurized pipeline, EP2935969B1 (2017), US9897243B2 (2018). Giunta, G., Bernasconi, G., Del Giudice, S. 2017c, Method and system for the continuous remote tracking of a pig device and detection of anomalies inside a pressurized pipeline, EP294485700B1 (2017), US10132823B2 (2018). Giunta, G., Timossi P., Borghi G.P., Schiavon R., Bernasconi G., Chiappa F., 2015, Field develop- ment of Eni Vibroacoustic Pipeline Monitoring System (e-vpms™): Long term performance analysis, 13th OMC 2015 Conference and Exhibition, Ravenna, Italy. Giunta, G., Morrea, S., Gabbassov, R., Bernasconi, G., S. Del Giudice, S., 2016, Performance of vibroacoustic technology for pipeline leak detection, Proc. ASME. 49965; Volume 5: Pipelines, Risers, and Subsea Systems, V005T04A029, OMAE2016-54181, doi: 10.1115/OMAE2016-54181 Giunta G. 2018, Vibroacoustic Technology for Pipeline Integrity Monitoring: Leak detection performances in relation to theft events, Copex 2018, CONCAWE, Antwerp, Belgium. Marino M., Chiappa F., Giunta G. (2019) Anticipating bunkering events: notable cases evidence using Vibroacoustic Leak Detection Technology to detect precursors, 14th Pipeline Technology Conference, Berlin, Germany Marino M., Chiappa F., Giunta G. (2020) Pipeline integrity assessment applications by using vibroacoustic technology, 15th Pipeline Technology Conference, Berlin, Germany G. Giunta, G. Bernasconi, S. Morrea, M. Signori (2020), Real-time gauge positioning and inspecti- on during pigging operations in gas pipeline 15th Pipeline Technology Conference, Berlin, Germany G. Giunta, G. Bernasconi, L. Bondi, K.L. Nielsen (2019), Data driven smart monitoring for pipeline integrity assessment, Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) 2019 G. Bernasconi, G. Giunta, Acoustic detection and tracking of a pipeline inspection gauge, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 194 (2020) 107549