THE PROJECT

The proposed Malta–Sicily Gas pipeline interconnection, with a supply capacity of 232,000Sm3/hr, is a 22inch diameter submarine pipeline 159 km long capable of operating in a bi-directional mode and recommended to be installed between Gela, Sicily, and Delimara, Malta.

The length of the onshore route between the terminal station and the shore line in Sicily is 7.1 km, whereas a 0.7 km pipeline shall cross the Delimara peninsula through a trenchless method from the Malta landfall to the Delimara Terminal Station.

The project will connect Malta to the European gas network and contribute to the integration of the Internal Energy Market. It will replace the importation of LNG for the production of electricity, contributing to the systemâ€s overall flexibility and interoperability in that it will offer the possibility of capacity for reverse flows in the future. The Malta-Sicily gas pipeline, in other words, will guarantee greater security of energy supply to the island, giving an easier access to the natural gas resources and market integration.

151 KM of MARINE ROUTE SURVEY

The mobilisation will start in the following weeks while the operation shall take approximately 3 months and will see the use of LIGHTHOUSE vessels for investigation activities.

Four different dedicated vessels will be mobilised almost simultaneously along the whole routing for the survey and sampling activities covering specific areas in the nearshore sector of the landfalls and all along the offshore portion.

Operations will include four different kind of geophysical survey (MBES, SSS, SBP and Magnetometer), collection of about 120 geotechnical samples, and as many about 120 environmental samples with involvement of more than 60 people during the different phases of the project.

“The chance to get involved in the Malta – Sicily Gas Pipeline project represents – once more – our efforts to consolidate our leadership position in the Mediterranean Sea as Survey & Positioning provider”, said Pietro Basciano – LIGHTHOUSE Chairman. “Thanks to our vessels and our survey equipment, we provide our clients the best solutions to optimise offshore operations, meet deadlines and stick to budget plans”.

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In 2016 our company had already been awarded the contract for the “Reconnaissance Survey to Determine the Preferred Route for the EuroAsia InterConnector” which was successfully performed within the same year.

The construction of this “electric highway”, will link the national electricity networks of Greece, Crete, Cyprus and Israel through a 1500 km of HVDC cable placed at a depth of 3â€000 meters. It will be therefore able to transport electricity from the eastern Mediterranean to the European continent. For this reason, the project is financed by the European Commission and it has been included in the PCI (“Project of Common Interest”).

The design and the installation of such a complex system requires a high precision data acquisition and successive processing. This will be possible through classic survey techniques as well as extremely advanced underwater robotic technologies such as AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) and ROV (Remote Operated Vehicles).

LIGHTHOUSE will employ three research vessels in the section of open sea where the investigations will be carried out. Two of them belong to our company, RV Nautical Geo and RV Odin Finder while the third will be an additional leased one. A series of smaller sized vessel will be used for the reliefs in the shallow water zones near the coast and shoreline.

The huge amount of data collected will be processed on board and then it will be interpreted by geophysicists in the data processing and reporting department in our headquarters. At this stage, a customer support will be provided in Nicosia, EuroAsia Interconnectorâ€s headquarters.

“We are very proud to be involved in this important engineering and construction project especially in the first phases which are always the most critical” commented Pietro Basciano – LIGHTHOUSE Chairman. “The survey will be an important challenge for us. It will be an opportunity to demonstrate how we managed to establish the company into this international market thanks to our technicians†proficiency and professionality. We are grateful to Eurasia Interconnector for choosing us and believe in our abilities to offer a high level service even in the most extreme conditions”.

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Lead by CMOC – Caspi Meruerty Operating Company – the Consortium between Shell EP Offshore Ventures Limited (55%), KazMunayTeniz OOC JSC (25%) and Oman Pearls Company Limited (20%), the Pearls Project envisages the development of the Khazar and Auezov fields discovered in the north Caspian Sea (also called “the Pearls block”).

The current development plan for the Khazar field foresees a co-development with the adjacent Kalamkas field (operated by NCOC), in order to maximise synergies and contribute to the economic viability of both the Kalamkas and Khazar fields.

THE SURVEY

The geophysical survey consisted of the acquisition of approximately 100 linear kilometres of 2DHR Seismic Data and more than 900 linear kilometres of analogue data (MBES, SSS and SBP).
The geotechnical survey, using CPT and Vibrocorer, involved the collection of samples in 22 locations along the pipeline route, at 5-10 m of depth. Offshore activities have been completed smoothly, within the budget and without any Lost Time Injury (LTI).

The strategic partnership with RECON Engineering LLP has consolidated our role in the area as a leading survey provider in Kazakhstan.
Since 2004, LIGHTHOUSE (formerly G.A.S. Geological Assistance and Services) has established a strong presence in the whole Caspian Area, and has been involved in the most important offshore projects both in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
LIGHTHOUSE have created hubs to provide survey and positioning services for Oil&GAS companies across the Caspian Region: it has an operative office in Atyrau (Kazakhstan) and Baku (Azerbaijan), a fully-equipped warehouse in Aktau and a support base in Bautino for vessel mobilisation.

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We welcomed Mr Radovan Kandić (Head of Sector for Hydrography and Oceanography – IHMS), Mr Luka Ćalić (Head of the Department of Hydrography – IHMS) and Miss Rabina Å abotić (Adviser at Department of Hydrography – IHMS), who were previously involved in the Hydrographic Survey offshore Montenegro carried out last month by LIGHTHOUSE on behalf of ENI S.p.A.

The training

The training topics covered the acquisition and the processing of MBES, SSS and SBP data, merging the theoretical subjects with the practical approach. Classes took places in our offices, both in the processing department and in the warehouse, where the trainees had the chance to see some of our survey equipment such as GPS systems, Gyrocompass, MBEcho-sounder, Side Scan Sonar and Sub-bottom Profiler. During the third day, a test was completed and then discussed with the trainees in order to verify the the effectiveness of the training.
During the classes, our reports and charts production, data cross check and merging, as well as case study presentations, have been object of study for the trainees, with the precious help of our data processing staff. The last day, a test was completed and then discussed with the trainees in order to verify the the effectiveness of the training.

The Institute for Hydrometeorology and Seismology, Montenegro (IHMS)

IHMS is the national hydrological and meteorological service of Montenegro.
Institute of Hydrometeorology and Seismology of Montenegro was formed in 2012 by merging two governmental institutions: the Hydrometeorological Institute and the Seismological Observatory. The main activities of the Institute concern the observation, measurement, analysis and processing of meteo, hydro, eco and agrometeo parameters.

IHMS is in charge of the production of studies, interpretations, analysis and information about climate, condition of the soil, air, surface and ground water and coastal sea, including the forecasting and dissemination of data (meteo, hydro, eco and agrometeo). IHMS establishes and maintains Network Stations (meteo, hydro, agrometeo) to monitor water, air, soil and weather conditions.

In the pictures above, the trainees from IHMS with LIGHTHOUSE personnel involved in the training: Mrs Rosaria Di Florio, Mr Fabrizio Zucchini, Mr Stefano Carletti, Miss Paola Crupi and Mr Marcello Bernardi

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L'articolo Hospice Seràgnoli Foundation, a great Institution we choose to support sembra essere il primo su Lighthouse.

Organised by the Inter-Islamic Science and Technology Network on Oceanography (INOC) in partnership with the Institute of Geography of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS)the UPCB Conference aims at increasing the exchange of international scientific cooperation and the knowledge on the specific features (and future possible scenarios) of the region.

The event is an interesting opportunity to analyse the present situation of the Caspian Basin and to discuss the potential future development in terms of International cooperation in the region. It will involve prestigious academics from different countries (France, Russia, Turkey, Switzerland, Azerbaijan) on scientific themes of great interest, which will examine in depth the specific features of the nowadays Caspian Basin situation, in order to share potential solutions for the future.

UPCB Conference main speeches

• Münir ÖZTÃœRK (Turkey) – The impact of climate change on: sea level, bio-resources, bio-diversity, marine invasive species, ecology and food web: past, present and future
• Ramiz MAMMEDOV (Institute of Geography of ANAS – Azerbaijan) – Climate and hydro-meteorological features of the basin
• Alexandre Hedjazi BABAK (Université de Genève – Switzerland) – Sustainable development, International cooperation, socio-economical development, Industry and energy-food, water-ecosystem nexus, disaster and risks, the state of fishes and fishery in the Caspian region
• Michail BOLGOV (Institute of water problems of Russian academy of Sciences- Russia) – Physical and chemical characteristics of the Caspian Sea
• Suzanne LEROY (Centre européen de recherche et d’enseignement des géosciences de l’environnement – France) – Geology, geomorphology and paleo-geography
• Mustafa ERGUN (INOC Executive Director) – Marine geophysics, seismology, seismic hazard assessment
• Andrey KOSTIANOY ( Institute of Oceanology named after P.P Shirshov/ COSPAR – Russia) – The application of remote sensing and GIS on investigation of modern climatic trends
• Michèle CASANOVA (Université Lumière Lyon 2, UMR 5133 Archéorient,
  CNRS, Lyon, France) – Archeology

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Baldermann’s lessons concerned different topics of the paleo-geographic conditions of the Miocene period: clay minerals application in civil engineering and geology, the role of authigenic clay minerals in the biogeochemical cycle of iron and Paleo-climate evolution of Miocene sediments from the Valley of Lakes (Mongolia) revealed by multi-proxy approach.

Academician Ramiz Mammadov, which introduced the three-day meeting, welcomed the participants underlining the importance of the seminary, which aimed at promoting the development of scientific and practical cooperation between ANAS and the universities involved.

During the last day, it was held a workshop on “Geology of the Miocene Eastern Paratethys” which involved the director and scientists of ANAS institute, researchers of Institute of Geology and Geophysics, geologists of SOCAR and BP as well as professors and PhD, master and bachelor students participated in the workshop. Dr Yelena Tagiyeva from the Institute of Geography, Dr Shafag Bayramova from Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Prof Dr Sachsenhofer from Montana University, Nazim Abdullayev from BP gave a talk and discussed the geology of Miocene the Eastern Paratethys.

LIGHTHOUSE strongly believes in the importance of the mutualistic relationship between companies and universities and proudly chooses to actively support this kind of initiatives, both in Italy and in the countries where, as in Azerbaijan, has developed a strong presence.

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Oceanology International 2018 will put together more than 8,000 marine professionals from 79 countries: engineers, scientists and industry managers from all over the globe who will be introducing new products and technology during the event. The event will take place at London’s Excel Conference and Exhibition Centre from 13 to 15 March 2018.

As always, LIGHTHOUSE will attend the exhibition with great interest, meeting face to face with partners, suppliers and exhibitors from across the globe. Moreover, this year the show will also offer our company the opportunity to unveil the newest Ageotec ROV model, the Perseo GTV MY2018, an upgraded version of the popular Ageotec ROV Perseo GTV.

Join us from 13th March 2018 in London: STAND J350

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L'articolo LIGHTHOUSE receives renewed ISO certification sembra essere il primo su Lighthouse.

With great pleasure, we were asked to participate in this course as one of the main Italian Company working in the sector, at first giving lectures within the course and then developing an internship plan with the students.

The course provides theoretical and operative knowledge, with respect to the monitoring and positioning within offshore engineering and it is addressed to students, who already have a background in geomatics, topography and survey (and typically come from Master of Science background through DICAM).

“POSITIONING SERVICES IN OFFSHORE MARKET”

On December 14, Rosaria Di Florio and Fabrizio Zucchini of LIGHTHOUSE held the first 4-hours lecture at the School of Engineering and Architecture in Ravenna. The lecture, entitled “Positioning Services in Offshore Market” aimed to show some practical applications of the course topics.
The class, made up of students of various nationalities, showed considerable interest and curiosity regarding the activities LIGHTHOUSE is involved in, such as Geophysical Survey and Support to Construction Services.
The examples shown during the lecture emphasised the importance of the central role of the Surveyor and the LBL Engineer and described some real Case Studies LIGHTHOUSE has worked on in recent years.

THE WIN-WIN COLLABORATION BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES AND COMPANIES

The partnership between an Italian Company operating in the Offshore market, such as LIGHTHOUSE, and a specific University Course like DICAM, can only be positive and fruitful for both sides. Itâ€s a win-win solution we strongly believe in, as our history can tell you.

The partnership between LIGHTHOUSE and DICAM has developed from the first lecture and will evolve with assistance in thesis development, internship programmes, and employment for pas t students from the university at the Company thanks to the technical skills gained during their university studies.

THE COURSE

The course, held in english, has been created for students of an MSc in Chemical and Process Engineering, MSc Science in Civil Engineering and MSc Science in Environmental Engineering at DICAM. The course is composed by 80% frontal lectures and 20% practice (outdoor and laboratory, including surveys, data analysis and data processing). The final exam consists of an oral discussion that starts with a real case study involving offshore structure monitoring, land monitoring or a positioning problem from the field.

The Ravenna Campus: the natural seat for an Offshore specialisation

Since 1989 the Alma Mater Studiorum has been structured as a Multi-campus: the Bologna Campus works alongside the Campuses in Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini. Topics of specialisation were identified for each of the four Campuses in Romagna.
Ravenna represents the Italian tradition and the history of Oil & Gas. The Offshore industry arose in Italy and in Ravenna from gas extraction in the Adriatic Sea, started by ENI in the second half of the 1950s. From then on, Ravenna has become one of the most important global hubs for Offshore companies, specialising in extraction plants construction and shipyards. Today, enterprises in the area of Ravenna are international competitors working in the principal global markets, such as North and West Africa, Mediterranean countries, North Sea countries, Latin America and Kazakhstan.

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