OIL AND GAS DRONES

Asterios Lialios from Hellenic Petroleum and Evangelos Moraitis from DROBOTiQS discuss the role of confined space drones in the oil and gas industry. In particular, they touch on topics of safety and how drones are helping to make oil and gas operations safer. They compare traditional inspection methods, like scaffolding and cranes, with drone inspections and go through some of the major use cases for drones in oil and gas.

"I believe it's going to be a game-changer and a very important tool. Using a drone is inherently safe when compared to working at height or entering a confined space" says Asterios when talking about confined space drones.

Conduct a visual and UT inspection of a storage tank in just a few hours instead of weeks with the Elios 3 UT drone. No need to enter into the asset or to work at height thanks to the drone’s remote inspection capabilities.

In this video from Shell and CAN-USA, discover how drone technology is transforming offshore platform inspections, making them safer, faster, and more efficient. Using, among others, the Flyability Elios 3 drone, Tori is able to access hard-to-reach areas without the need for ropes, scaffolding, or putting herself at risk. And all that "in just 7 minutes".

The video takes you inside Tori’s inspiring journey from rope-access on Shell's offshore platforms to piloting cutting-edge drones equipped with cameras, thermal imaging, gas sensors, LiDARs, and ultrasonic thickness (UT) gauges. In this way, she and the team at CAN-USA can deliver accurate, real-time data in challenging offshore areas without being at risk. This approach not only reduces downtime and inspection costs but also improves safety for inspection teams.

TotalEnergies reduces inspection costs by 40% using the Elios 3 UT drone to perform its FPSO inspections. The Elios 3 collects data inside ballast tanks and provides accurate corrosion detection. Thanks to the LiDAR data, corrosion spots can then be localized in the 3D model of the vessel.

Use a drone to perform visual inspections inside FCC units where the air quality is poor and the visibility is difficult for human eyes. Inspect all parts periodically to ensure the unit is safe for continued use.

Relying on the power of computer vision and LiDAR mapping, Elios 3 allows pilots to navigate inside industrial assets such as tanks, building a real-time 3D view of the drone’s environment and trajectory.

A drone can help identify potential climbing hazards, find structural damage, and help inspectors understand the tools they need prior to climbing. Once this information has been gathered, the inspector can follow up and address the issues revealed in the data - if any.

Use a drone to inspect areas that are difficult to reach and avoid any costs for scaffolding. Check the condition of welds, drains and inlets, corrosion coatings, screw connections and other components of the tank.

Inspect a regenerator without having to rely on scaffolding or rope access, thanks to the innovative power of drones. Easily detect damage in the structure and capture beautiful 3D models without having to send people to inspect them.