Patents by Inventor Giancarlo Bernasconi

Giancarlo Bernasconi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11442043
    Abstract: A monitoring system of the integrity of a pressurised pipe by at least one pressure pulses generator that is hydraulically connected to the fluid in the pipe. Each generator comprises: one first tank and a second tank that maintain the fluid respectively at a first and a second pressure values. The first value is smaller, and the second value is greater than the predefined pressure value of the fluid in the pipe. The first and second tanks generate respectively a negative pressure pulse, caused by the passage of the fluid from the pipe to the first tank, and a positive pressure pulse, caused by the passage of the fluid from the second tank to the pipe. A pressure transducer is designed to measure the pressure values of the fluid in the pipe and to convert the negative or positive pressure pulses generate by the generator into respective recorded acoustic signals. A measurement station is placed along the pipe to detect the acoustic signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Giunta, Giancarlo Bernasconi, Massimo Signori
  • Publication number: 20200309741
    Abstract: A description is given of a system and a method of monitoring of a pipe for the transportation of a fluid at a predefined pressure value. The system comprises at least one pressure pulses generator device hydraulically connected to the fluid transported by the pipe. Each pressure pulses generator device comprises at least one first tank, designed to contain fluid coming from the pipe and to maintain it at a first pressure value which is smaller than the predefined pressure of the fluid transported by the pipe, and at least one second tank, designed to contain fluid coming from the pipe and to maintain it at a second pressure value which is greater than the predefined pressure value of the fluid transported by the pipe. The first tank and the second tank generate respectively a negative pressure pulse, caused by the passage of fluid from the pipe to the first tank, and a positive pressure pulse, caused by the passage of fluid from the second tank to the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe GIUNTA, Giancarlo BERNASCONI, Massimo SIGNORI
  • Patent number: 10527514
    Abstract: A system and method remotely measure in real time through sound waves, geometric parameters of a pipeline in the launch step. An acoustic transceiver positioned in a pipeline includes an acoustic transmitter emitting an input acoustic signal into the pipeline, based on an electric pilot signal. An acoustic receiver detects the input acoustic signal and generates a first electric measurement signal, dependent on the input acoustic signal. The acoustic receiver receives an input return signal dependent on the input acoustic signal and on pipeline geometric parameters, and generates a second electric measurement signal based on the return acoustic signal. A control unit generates an electric pilot signal and connects to the acoustic transceiver and receives the first electric measurement signal and the second electric measurement signal. The control unit measures the geometric parameters of the pipeline based on the first and second electric measurement signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: SAIPEM S.p.A.
    Inventors: Adriano Calzavara, Giancarlo Bernasconi, Massimo Signori
  • Patent number: 10495460
    Abstract: A detection system to check the position of a pipeline in a bed of a body of water and extending along a predetermined route; the system comprising a device, which is configured to be moved in a moving direction and along the predetermined route and comprises a support, which mainly extends transversely to the moving direction, a quantity of acoustic wave sources, which are mounted on the support and are configured to transmit acoustic waves through the body of water and the bed of the body of water, and a quantity of acoustic wave receivers, which are located along the support and are configured to receive reflected acoustic waves and emit reception signals related to the reflected acoustic waves; and a processing unit comprising an acquisition unit, which is configured to receive, from the outside, at least one datum selected within a group of known or expected data comprising: the known value of the cross-section of the pipeline, an expected value of the trenching height of the pipeline, the known shape of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: SAIPEM S.p.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Visentin, Paolo Bonel, Fabio Chiappa, Giancarlo Bernasconi
  • Patent number: 10401254
    Abstract: A method and system for continuous remote monitoring of integrity of pressurized pipelines and properties of fluids transported, the method including: installing plural measurement stations along the pipeline, connected to vibroacoustic sensors configured to simultaneously and continuously measure elastic signals propagating in walls of the pipeline, and acoustic signals propagating in the transported fluid; synchronizing the signals measured from different measurement stations, with absolute time reference; continuously transmitting the measured and synchronized signals to a central unit configured to process them in a multichannel mode; calculating, by the central unit, plural transfer functions that can define vibroacoustic propagation in sections of pipeline between consecutive measurement stations; filtering relevant acoustic and elastic signals from the different measurement stations subtracting the contribution relating to the passive sources; creating an equivalent descriptive model of the system incl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Giunta, Giancarlo Bernasconi
  • Patent number: 10132823
    Abstract: A method and system are described for the continuous remote monitoring of the position and advance speed of a pig device inside a pipeline suitable for transporting a pressurized fluid, wherein the pipeline consists of a plurality of pipe sections joined to each other by welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Giunta, Giancarlo Bernasconi, Silvio Del Giudice
  • Publication number: 20180172546
    Abstract: A system and method remotely measure in real time through sound waves, geometric parameters of a pipeline in the launch step. An acoustic transceiver positioned in a pipeline includes an acoustic transmitter emitting an input acoustic signal into the pipeline, based on an electric pilot signal. An acoustic receiver detects the input acoustic signal and generates a first electric measurement signal, dependent on the input acoustic signal. The acoustic receiver receives an input return signal dependent on the input acoustic signal and on pipeline geometric parameters, and generates a second electric measurement signal based on the return acoustic signal. A control unit generates an electric pilot signal and connects to the acoustic transceiver and receives the first electric measurement signal and the second electric measurement signal. The control unit measures the geometric parameters of the pipeline based on the first and second electric measurement signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Adriano CALZAVARA, Giancarlo BERNASCONI, Massimo SIGNORI
  • Publication number: 20180106614
    Abstract: A detection system to check the position of a pipeline in a bed of a body of water and extending along a predetermined route; the system comprising a device, which is configured to be moved in a moving direction and along the predetermined route and comprises a support, which mainly extends transversely to the moving direction, a quantity of acoustic wave sources, which are mounted on the support and are configured to transmit acoustic waves through the body of water and the bed of the body of water, and a quantity of acoustic wave receivers, which are located along the support and are configured to receive reflected acoustic waves and emit reception signals related to the reflected acoustic waves; and a processing unit comprising an acquisition unit, which is configured to receive, from the outside, at least one datum selected within a group of known or expected data comprising: the known value of the cross-section of the pipeline, an expected value of the trenching height of the pipeline, the known shape of
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Roberto Visentin, Paolo Bonel, Fabio Chiappa, Giancarlo Bernasconi
  • Patent number: 9897243
    Abstract: A method and a system remotely detect the position of a pig device inside a pipeline for transporting pressurized fluids, like for example long distance oil and gas pipelines having a strategic international value. The method foresees equipping the pipeline with pressure sensors in contact with the fluid, located at at least one of the two terminals of the pipeline, and the sending and processing of signals by a control unit. The operation of the system is that of identifying and locating, in real time and continuously, a pig device that moves intermittently inside the pipeline, for example during cleaning, monitoring, measurement and non-destructive control operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Giunta, Giancarlo Bernasconi
  • Publication number: 20150331007
    Abstract: A method and system are described for the continuous remote monitoring of the position and advance speed of a pig device inside a pipeline suitable for transporting a pressurized fluid, wherein the pipeline consists of a plurality of pipe sections joined to each other by welding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: ENI S.p.A
    Inventors: Giuseppe GIUNTA, Giancarlo BERNASCONI, Silvio DEL GIUDICE
  • Publication number: 20150323119
    Abstract: A method and a system remotely detect the position of a pig device inside a pipeline for transporting pressurised fluids, like for example long distance oil and gas pipelines having a strategic international value. The method foresees equipping the pipeline with pressure sensors in contact with the fluid, located at at least one of the two terminals of the pipeline, and the sending and processing of signals by a control unit. The operation of the system is that of identifying and locating, in real time and continuously, a pig device that moves intermittently inside the pipeline, for example during cleaning, monitoring, measurement and non-destructive control operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe GIUNTA, Giancarlo BERNASCONI
  • Publication number: 20150300907
    Abstract: A method and system for continuous remote monitoring of integrity of pressurized pipelines and properties of fluids transported, the method including: installing plural measurement stations along the pipeline, connected to vibroacoustic sensors configured to simultaneously and continuously measure elastic signals propagating in walls of the pipeline, and acoustic signals propagating in the transported fluid; synchronizing the signals measured from different measurement stations, with absolute time reference; continuously transmitting the measured and synchronized signals to a central unit configured to process them in a multichannel mode; calculating, by the central unit, plural transfer functions that can define vibroacoustic propagation in sections of pipeline between consecutive measurement stations; filtering relevant acoustic and elastic signals from the different measurement stations subtracting the contribution relating to the passive sources; creating an equivalent descriptive model of the system incl
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuseppe GIUNTA, Giancarlo BERNASCONI
  • Patent number: 8275592
    Abstract: To perform inversion based on electromagnetic (EM) data acquired in a subterranean survey, time domain controlled source EM (TD-CSEM) data is acquired by at least one EM receiver in response to EM signals from a controlled EM source. Further data is received, where the further data is selected from among magnetotelluric (MT) data and DC data acquired by the at least one receiver. A probabilistic joint inversion is applied on the TD-CSEM data and the further data to produce a model representing a subterranean structure that is a target of the subterranean survey.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Andrea Lovatini, Michael D. Watts, Diego Rovetta, Giancarlo Bernasconi, Paolo Mazzucchelli
  • Publication number: 20090254320
    Abstract: To perform inversion based on electromagnetic (EM) data acquired in a subterranean survey, time domain controlled source EM (TD-CSEM) data is acquired by at least one EM receiver in response to EM signals from a controlled EM source. Further data is received, where the further data is selected from among magnetotelluric (MT) data and DC data acquired by the at least one receiver. A probabilistic joint inversion is applied on the TD-CSEM data and the further data to produce a model representing a subterranean structure that is a target of the subterranean survey.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Andrea Lovatini, Michael D. Watts, Diego Rovetta, Giancarlo Bernasconi, Paolo Mazzucchelli