The use of drones in the oil and gas industry is ready for takeoff. Drone technology benefits oil and gas operations in a host of ways such as safe and efficient maintenance and inspections. However, the true transformation in the Oil & Gas industry if the data drones can provide.
Oil and gas companies, and the energy sector in general, are starting to use drones in a variety of functions. From mapping to safer inspections to real-time aerial information of leaks and spills, here are the top three uses of drone technology and situational flight data in the industry:
Drone Data Uncovers Trends Invisible to the Human Eye
Sophisticated data gathering, and analytics provided by drone technology helps operators analyze sensor information from offshore and onshore sites, which flags potential issues the human eye cannot detect. For instance, energy giants are tuning to drones to search for corrosion prone areas on oil rigs so they can plan safe and productive drilling operations.
Data from Oil & Gas Drone Inspections Support Cost Efficiency
Engineers traditionally monitor oil wells manually and rely heavily on manned aircraft or road vehicles to detect damage, invasive vegetation or leaks. Both methods are more expensive and less efficient than a drone solution. Pipeline leaks, for instance, are a growing global concern. It is estimated that the market spends US$ 37 billion a year globally just in monitoring such threats.
By employing drone technology, utility companies can automate oil and gas drone inspections with sensors that are a fraction of the current cost. Drone technologies can instantly calculate geological and seismic data to improve savings. Digital data collected from offshore platforms, oil rigs and other sites can better detect and uncover more efficient ways to produce oil and gas and even forecast future breakdowns or expensive complications.
Drone Data Provides Productivity Gains
The amount of data drones can capture is giving oil and gas companies a major leg up on the competition. The use of drones allows for exhaustive, round-the-clock data collection and surveillance, all delivered in real-time. That data is more comprehensive and will better prepare and inform operators and command teams. By measuring drone-collected data, they can discover significant trends to inform and improve future operations.
Our team at Drone Academy Asia is very excited in the possibilities of Drone Technology. Our vision is the bring our real-world industry knowledge to you, so you could use drones to enhance productivity, save cost and labor. Contact us today on our Drone Training Courses !
Photo Credit : PreScouter