Essentially, a drone is a flying robot that can be remotely controlled or fly autonomously using software-controlled flight plans in its embedded systems as they don’t carry any passengers, the name unmanned aerial vehicle UAV came about.
The technology has been around from WWI with the first drones used primarily for military purposes. During this time, both the U.S. and Britain experimented with early UAVs for reconnaissance and target practice.
Fast forward, the usage of drones has rapidly increased in various sectors with a great potential for the oil and gas industry, as the technology provides vast benefits.
Although the technology is still a work in progress, undergoing rapid improvements, its global market in Oil & Gas is expected to reach USD 8.05 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate exhibiting (CAGR) of 27.5 % during the forecast period of 2024 – 2032.
In 2013, BP became the first oil and gas company to receive a license to operate drones. Several oil and gas companies have followed suit since, including ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Equinor, and Gazprom.
The use of drones in the oil and gas industry has already shown impressive results, with companies reporting substantial cost savings and increased efficiency. One of the reports by PwC showed that drones have already saved the oil and gas industry an estimated $1 billion in inspection costs alone.
In addition to cost saving, the use of drones in the Oil & Gas industry has also improved safety by reducing the need for workers to undertake high-risk activities, preventing direct human intervention with reduced downtimes.
With applications from mapping, surveys, asset inspection, surveillance & monitoring, emergency response, security, and simulation, companies can significantly optimize their operations and increase safety.
Various Uses of Drones
Inspection of assets
Most of the assets in the oil and gas industry can be mapped aerially using drones, from Pipelines, Rigs & Platforms, Refineries, to Processing Plants being able to detect any signs of corrosion, damage, leakage, and defects in structural integrity of the assets.
Mapping and Surveys
Accurate mapping or survey is essential in identifying potential hazards, planning infrastructure development, as well as maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements. Drones are equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors that map large areas of land quickly and accurately, providing quality and highly accurate data.
Emergency Response
Drones are being used for emergency response in Oil & Gas related incidents from spills, leaks, to fire outbreaks. Drones are equipped with thermal cameras, gas detectors, and other sensors which are being used to detect and assess the severity of incidents quickly and accurately, allowing first responders to take action more effectively to remedy the issue and save lives.
Surveillance & Monitoring
Drones can provide real-time video feeds and other data to security personnel, allowing them to make informed decisions in real-time. Apart from this, they can be used to monitor various pipeline assets and facilities for any potential security threats such as trespassers, vandalism, or theft.
Improved Project Planning
Drones can improve project planning and management in the oil and gas industry, helping owner/investors to better understand and optimize their operations. Similar to tripod, drones can capture detailed images and data that create accurate 3D models of assets and facilities. Such information helps to improve project planning and design.
5 Major Benefits of Drones in Oil and Gas
Safer & Faster Inspections
Typical inspection of an Oil & Gas assets required some kind of specialized equipment such as scaffolds, cranes and harnesses at close proximity for human intervention. Drones are making inspections much safer. Drones fly to great heights and through toxic chemicals with ease, so there’s no need to put personnel in harm’s way.
Drone inspections are also faster. While traditional Oil & Gas inspections can take several days to complete, drones fly directly to a target or asset of interest, perform comprehensive checks, and eliminate the need to shut down operations.
They can also quickly inspect hard-to-reach areas, whether it’s an oil and gas site, pipeline, storage tank, or offshore platform.
Reduced Asset Maintenance Costs
By simply reducing the amount of scaffolding and other temporary structures needed for inspections, drones can save millions of dollars’ worth in asset maintenance costs, which frees up considerable time and budget.
Drones can perform inspection on live/operating assets without the need of shutting them down. Flare stacks and boiler tanks needed to be shut off several days in advance for an inspection, so they are safe for human entry and interaction but, with drones there is no need.
Emergency Response
Drones can help you respond quickly and efficiently to any emergency. Unlike manned aircraft that need a pilot and lead time to be ready for takeoff, drones can launch immediately. Their speedy deployment can save precious time when disaster hits.
Drones have also been previously used to assist during tank fires. Since they can withstand extreme temperatures, they are well-suited for monitoring a fire’s progression. They can livestream information back to responders, and even zoom in on where the holes in tanks are located. That way, firefighter hose teams know exactly where to focus their foam spray. Plus, drones can monitor the integrity of the foam blanket, so you know how much foam to reapply as older foam breaks down.
Better Leak Detection Capabilities
Gas leaks at pipeline joints, fittings and in processing infrastructure can result in major fire hazards. The prevention thereof is extremely important.
Before drones, Oil & Gas performed leak detection by mounting fixed detectors at high-risk spots in facilities and along pipelines and by having inspectors occasionally check areas with portable detectors. However, these traditional leak detection methods can be costly and inefficient.
Drones can autonomously patrol pre-determined paths and identify areas where there is a gas leakage. The entire process can be automated, and drone can access areas which are extremely difficult to reach manually.
The drones can gather multiple types of data and stitch it into a 3D model of the infrastructure with locations of gas leaks marked. Over time this data can be used to identify areas where gas leaks are more frequent allowing engineers to make informed decisions regarding maintenance and replacement.
Accurate Data Collection
Drones collects better data than humans can because they can get much closer to infrastructure regardless of the conditions. They also offer more accurate data with their wide range of cameras and sensors that allow them to produce better visuals.
Additionally, drones provide information faster. They upload data to the cloud for quick, real-time processing.
