A technical and scientific agreement was signed today between the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the Directorate General for safety, also environmental, of mining and energy activities of the MISE and the Italian Mining Association.
The objective of the agreement is to start scientific cooperation between the Parties which will allow not only to broaden the knowledge of the Italian offshore, but also to increase the effectiveness of INGV in its monitoring and surveillance activities, in particular of seismicity, to protect of the entire national territory.
In particular, the envisaged activities are: the exchange of data concerning the sea basin, such as seismic data and GPS (Global Positioning System), acquired by instruments installed on offshore platforms; the installation of multi-parameter stations aimed at studying offshore natural risks; the creation of pilot sites to be connected in real-time with the monitoring centers and ground operations rooms of INGV; collaboration in seabed studies.
“The data collected will be used for better seismic and volcanic surveillance and will integrate and enhance the already existing networks of the INGV monitoring system to protect the entire national territory, also contributing to improving knowledge of the structure and the functioning of the earth's crust and mantle in the Italian area”, declared the President of INGV, Carlo Doglioni.
"The one just signed is a very important agreement which confirms the Ministry's commitment to guaranteeing the study of natural seismicity and the safety of mining activities", said Franco Terlizzese, Director General for the safety of mining and energy activities. “The collaboration with INGV and Assomineraria will allow us to have all the useful elements to expand the monitoring of operations at sea, through the exchange of data in real time, the implementation of suitable control systems and the development of technological innovation, further strengthening plus the activities already envisaged in the context of our CLYPEA-Network for offshore safety project, of which INGV is a partner”.
Sergio Polito, Acting President of Assomineraria, commented on the agreement as follows. “Assomineraria intends to support the acquisition of geological and geodynamic data aimed at improving the knowledge and protection of the Italian territory both onshore and offshore. This collaboration will allow the network of offshore plants to be used for the installation of seismometers and other survey instruments in areas hitherto completely uncovered by monitoring networks. In addition, new data acquisition technologies and the processing capacity of the Oil & Gas industry's computing centers will be shared. All this aiming at the launch of a system of study and surveillance of marine areas on a par with the most advanced in the world".
The agreement has a duration of 15 years and is considered operational from today.
Photo 1: Franco Terlizzese, Director General for the safety of mining and energy activities; Carlo Doglioni, President of INGV; Sergio Polito, Acting President of Assomineraria