In the natural gas and petroleum industries, there is a lot of equipment to maintain, repair, and periodically replace. In places like pipelines and offshore facilities, special challenges exist due to ocean currents or large distances to cover. To make it easier and more cost-effective to keep up with things, oil and gas drone inspection companies are there for you. Here are some good reasons to consider giving them a call.
What is a Drone?
Originally, drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) were male bees that served the purpose of mating and not much else. In fact, the name “drone” is believed to have come from Admiral William Standley in 1935, when he saw England’s DH 82B Queen Bee, a remotely controlled plane that was used as an aid in gunnery practice. He was so impressed that he was responsible for developing “drones” (named in honor of the DH 82B). Today, UAVs like the one used for oil and gas drone inspection are small aircraft that can be flown remotely or automatically with special software programs that utilize GPS and other sensing equipment.
Helping the Gas and Oil Industries
UAVs can simplify leak detection in oil or gas pipelines. For example, if one made a physical inspection, it could take days to travel many miles in search of a bad pipe. You could send a company plane, but you would have to pay a pilot, and the price of gasoline would make the trip an expensive ordeal. It’s more cost-effective to send a small UAV oil and gas drone inspection that uses very little fuel and can check for leaks with sensing equipment like infrared cameras and gas detecting equipment.
In the offshore oil industry, tasks like flair stack inspections are safer, faster, and easier thanks to UAVs. It’s possible to check for damage and leaks, without involving employees.
