October 30, 2024 [EV Magazine]- Energy giants like Aramco, Shell, Chevron and bp leverage drone tech to enhance safety, reduce costs and drive sustainability across energy infrastructure

EV manufacturers and charging infrastructure companies are leveraging drone technology to enhance their operations’ safety, efficiency and sustainability.

One of the primary uses of drones within the energy sector is inspecting vital infrastructure like power lines, wind turbines and oil tanks. Drones, equipped with high-definition (HD) cameras, help detect structural weaknesses, corrosion, or potential hazards faster and safer than traditional methods.

Shell has used drones since 2010 to monitor facilities like its Energy and Chemicals Park Rhineland, where drones now inspect tank farm roofs autonomously.

Thomas Klein, Innovation Lead, Shell stated:

“Shell is highly innovative in tank roof inspections with the deployment of the automated drone solution.”

“This technology can also be used for many other monitoring tasks that make these operations safer and more efficient.”

Combined with machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), drones can efficiently detect abnormalities, predict maintenance needs and alert teams about necessary repairs.

Chevron, a pioneer in FAA-approved drone use in shared airspace, leverages uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) to monitor pipelines, reducing carbon emissions using less fuel than traditional inspection methods.

Drones bring significant cost savings. For example, inspections using drones on solar farms can cut inspection costs by up to 50% while enhancing operational efficiency.

Boosting safety with drone technology

In the oil and gas sector, drone inspections have proved crucial in protecting human inspectors from hazardous environments. By deploying drones, companies reduce the need for personnel to visit risky offshore or high-altitude sites, minimising exposure to toxic fumes and other dangers.

Khalid Y. Al-Qahtani, Senior Vice President of Engineering Services at Aramco, highlights the value of this shift, noting:

“Deploying industry-leading robotics and drone applications across Aramco’s business is driving safer, cost-effective and more efficient practices.”

Drones equipped with thermal imaging sensors can detect risks that human inspectors may overlook, allowing for regular monitoring and early identification of safety hazards.

In emergencies, drones can rapidly survey areas for damage, monitor oil spills or gas leaks and assess structural stability, enabling faster and safer disaster response.

Aramco has been at the forefront of this technological shift since 2015, using ultrasonic drones to detect structural defects that could compromise asset safety, further ensuring reliability and reducing downtime.

Drones and the future of energy innovation

As energy companies seek safer, more efficient and environmentally sustainable operations, drones emerge as a transformative tool. Through innovations in infrastructure inspections, safety enhancement and data management, drones continue to shape a more sustainable energy production and distribution future, positioning companies like Aramco, Shell, Chevron and bp at the forefront of a technology-driven shift in the energy landscape.

Transforming data collection and analysis

Beyond inspections, drones have become invaluable for collecting and analysing high-quality data across energy operations. Drones can carry various sensors, including LiDAR for topographic mapping, anemometers for wind measurements and pyranometers for solar irradiance.

Thermal imaging cameras capture heat signatures, providing insights into equipment performance and environmental conditions.

Sending drones to gather data allows companies to amass millions of data points, which would be challenging for human teams to analyse manually. Advanced AI and machine learning systems then process the data, helping to optimise operations, enhance asset performance and support strategic decision-making.

Building digital twins with drone data

Digital twins, or virtual replicas of physical infrastructure, are another innovative drone data use.

Using LiDAR scanning, drones help create digital twins of sites, improving data accuracy and speeding up information collection. BP has implemented digital twins across global production systems, leveraging technologies like APEX and Microsoft Azure to enhance asset management and performance.