The Elios 3 UT drone with its Tether Power Unit is deployed on offshore Shell platforms and operated by expert CAN-USA pilots to perform safer and more efficient offshore inspections.
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Access The Elios 3 drone with its Tether Power Unit provide unmatched accessibility to hard-to-reach areas on offshore platforms like tanks, cranes, and piping. |
Safety With the use of inspection drones, inspectors from CAN-USA are now able to remotely collect data inside confined spaces or at height. |
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Speed “Not only are drones safer, but they are also time-efficient. Previous rope access inspections could have taken an entire day, and now inspections can be accomplished in minutes.” - Shell USA |
Savings Deploying the Elios 3 UT is helping offshore units significantly reduce scaffolding costs and, in some instances, because of their speed, drones can alleviate the need to stop production on the platform. |
“Once a manual operation, drones are providing a safer, more time-efficient option to inspect offshore platforms, helping keep the lights on at home.” - Shell USA
Offshore platforms and FPSOs present some of the most challenging environments to inspect. Tanks, piping, and lifting equipment all require regular monitoring, while the risks of corrosion and dropped objects demand constant vigilance. Traditionally, rope access has been the backbone of these inspections, with skilled technicians completing much of the critical work. While effective, rope access can be time-consuming and exposes teams to challenging conditions. Looking for a way to enhance safety and efficiency without losing the expertise of its technicians, CAN-USA turned to inspection drones like the Elios 3 UT.
Image: Tori Gibson from the CAN-USA team flying the Elios 3 drone on a Shell oil platform. All credits to Shell
Offshore oil rig and FPSO operators need to maintain asset integrity while minimizing downtime and risk. Inspections of tanks, cranes, and piping often take significant time using rope access, and some areas remain difficult to reach. Dropped object inspections are particularly demanding, as early detection of corrosion-related hazards can be difficult with limited access. Shell and other operators rely on CAN-USA for inspecting many of these critical assets. Driven by their spirit of innovation, CAN-USA turned to inspection drones to improve coverage and efficiency of their inspections while ensuring the safety of their team. These drones are able to collect video recordings, thermal imaging, 3D models, ultrasonic thickness measurements (UTM), and gas levels. One of the biggest benefits of drone data is the ability to localize within the 3D model any points of interest (POIs) and the collected UT measurements, which provides better situational awareness for the inspectors. Inspection drones also have the ability to fly tethered for prolonged flight time or untethered to inspect hard-to-reach areas where the tether cable can’t reach.
Image: Olympus Oil Platform, 130 miles south of New Orleans. Photo credit CAN USA
Richard Turner, CAN-USA’s Specialty Services Manager, proposed a practical solution: train rope access technicians to operate drones. These technicians already knew what to look for on these offshore platforms and FPSOs, and with drones in hand, they could extend their reach and efficiency without depending on external drone pilots unfamiliar with offshore environments. This approach kept inspections in the hands of experts while unlocking the benefits of drone technology.
“Rope access technicians are retraining to use new cutting-edge drone technology on Shell-operated offshore platforms.” - Shell USA
A great example of this is Tori Gibson, who has worked in the oil and gas industry for over nine years. She spent four of those conducting manual rope access inspections, but more recently has transitioned to conducting offshore platform inspections with drones. “Not only are drones safer, but they are also time-efficient. Previous rope access inspections could have taken an entire day, and now inspections can be accomplished in minutes. In some instances, because they allow easier remote access, drone inspections alleviate the need to stop production on the platform,” says Shell USA in a recent article.
The Elios 3 UT drone became central to this strategy. It is now used for tank and vessel inspections, piping surveys, lifting equipment assessments, and preventing dropped objects. By supplementing rope access with drone technology, CAN-USA has reduced time spent in hazardous areas while achieving greater coverage. The Elios 3 UT’s LiDAR maps, localized points of interest, and onboard UTM payload provide a richer picture of asset health, while the Inspector software made reporting more straightforward for operators.
“The Elios 3 gives us an unparalleled ability to perform confined space inspections safer and more efficiently than ever before. That efficiency is further boosted in the hands of a qualified and competent inspector,” - Richard Turner, CAN-USA.
Image: Richard Turner and Tori Gibson operating the Elios 3 UT on a Shell oil platform. Credits to Shell
The adoption of drones has brought measurable benefits. CAN-USA’s offshore teams can complete inspections faster and with fewer interruptions to operations, while rope access is reserved for areas that truly require human intervention. On Shell offshore units, this hybrid approach has led to more complete inspections, greater situational awareness, and safer workflows for technicians.
Image: Data retrieved by the Elios 3 during a CAN-USA inspection on an oil platform. Credits to CAN-USA
A major enabler has been the Elios 3 Tether Power Unit. With a continuous power supply, CAN-USA can now sustain long missions without pausing for battery swaps, allowing entire tanks or cranes to be inspected in a single deployment. The tether also provides assurance when flying over open water, ensuring the drone can be recovered even in the event of failure. By eliminating the need to carry lithium batteries into hazardous offshore environments, it further strengthens operational safety.
“The tether has opened up areas we would have never been comfortable operating the Elios 3. We expected the longer flight times, but we gained so much more” - Richard Turner, CAN-USA.
By combining the proven expertise of rope access technicians with the advanced capabilities of offshore drones, CAN-USA has created a balanced, efficient inspection strategy. The Elios 3 UT and its Tether Power Unit have allowed them to deliver safer, faster, and more complete inspections on offshore platforms and FPSOs. This forward-looking approach, driven by Richard Turner’s vision, is reshaping offshore drone inspections and setting a new benchmark for the industry.
Thank you to Shell and CAN-USA for sharing their story.