Over the past few years, several companies have already conducted numerous operational tests in the offshore energy sector. For example, in January 2016, a UK-based firm reportedly conducted a drone inspection in the Gulf of Mexico aboard a drillship. The drone completed the inspection of the derrick, a heli-deck, and four cranes in two days, more than two weeks shorter than estimates of what would have been required under current inspection options. And, drones can foreseeably be used for faster gathering of information to detect and quantify discharges or spills in an effort to mitigate environmental impact in times of disaster
Besides oil and gas exploration, drones are being tested in inspections of offshore wind turbines in efforts to both decrease the economic losses caused during lengthy turbine inspection downtimes and enhance safety for technicians typically required to climb on the blades for repair or to complete an inspection. As a market, the cumulative global revenue for drone sales and inspection services “for wind turbines is expected to reach nearly $6 billion by 2024.”
The oil and gas industry sees value in the use of drones, particularly when the devices can mitigate risks to workers. For instance, it is increasingly finding ways to use the aircraft to inspect offshore and onshore facilities at heights, in hazardous areas or within confined spaces.
The energy industry already uses drones to inspect onshore oil and gas pipelines for evidence of corrosion, but drone technology has not yet matured to the point where it can also be a viable option for monitoring offshore pipelines.
The use of robotic technology for inspection purposes reduces the need for personnel working in enclosed spaces and at heights. Minimizing risk across the industry by utilizing cutting-edge technology in this way is of great importance to the energy industry. This technology provides a real opportunity to decrease the number of falls and fatalities that occur due to traditional methods of working at heights and the positive far outweigh any objections, that’s for sure.
is the energy industry dependent on drones now?