Saudi Aramco award the use of caged drones for internal asset inspections

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, September 2025: Alaa BenMahfoudh receives the Exceptional Safety Achievement Award from Saudi Aramco for his contributions in introducing caged drones for internal asset inspections

Innovative oil and gas companies around the world are adopting Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) drones to perform remote inspections of their assets, like storage tanks, stacks, piperacks, Fluid Catalytic Cracking units (FCC), and more. The reason behind this global surge in adoption is the increasing importance for oil and gas companies to guarantee the safety of their workers, thanks to reduced confined space entries and work at height, but also to improve the efficiency of their inspections. Drones are capable of collecting high-quality data, even where humans can’t reach, and reduce the need for traditional inspection methods like scaffolding, rope-access, and man lifts, which can be risky, costly, and time-consuming.

For many years, one of the most innovative companies to introduce NDT drones into their inspection processes has been Saudi Aramco. This highlights their commitment to safety and innovation, two elements at the core of Saudi Aramco’s values. In fact, in 2024, Saudi Aramco awarded Alaa BenMahfoudh, their senior robotics engineer, with the Exceptional Safety Achievement Award for his contributions in introducing caged drones for internal asset inspections.

Image: Saudi Aramco assigning the 2024 Exceptional Safety Achievement Award

“This innovation is a game-changer. It replaces traditional scaffolding methods, significantly reducing costs while dramatically improving safety by eliminating the need for personnel to work in confined spaces. It’s rewarding to see technology enhancing both safety and quality in our industry,” says Alaa BenMahfoudh.

Image: Alaa BenMahfoudh receiving the 2024 Exceptional Safety Achievement Award

A big role in Saudi Aramco’s adoption of drones is also played by Soliman A. Al-Walaie, Senior Engineering Consultant, according to whom, drones are revolutionizing the oil and gas industry. In a recent presentation, Mr. Walaie shared his view on the use of drones in this industry and how they are helping make inspections faster, safer, and cheaper. He also touched on the importance of having digital replicas of your oil and gas assets to help assess their condition and integrity, and how adopting Non-Destructive Testing drone technology has helped cut inspection costs up to 50-60% compared to conventional inspection methods.

Find out more here on how Saudi Aramco are innovating through drone technology.