UAS in the Petroleum industry and the benefits of the technology.
Dyan Gibbens, Trumbull Unmanned, Houston
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly called drones, remain the fastest growing technological advancement and sector in aerospace. Over the next 10 years, the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) predicts the use of UAS is forecasted to grow into a $140 billion dollar global market. In the simplest terms, UAS are a tool to collect valuable data for end users; they can help increase revenue, decrease cost, and minimize risk. A number of industries across the world are benefiting from UAS integration into operations to gain access to data that were either previously unavailable or significantly more expensive to obtain. This same technology can significantly benefit the oil and gas industry by reducing exposure of personnel to hazardous situations, while saving substantial amounts of time and money. In a world becoming more data-driven, access to quality data is increasingly vital to remain competitive. UAS are an exciting and efficient new technology that the oil and gas industry can leverage to efficiently collect data to revolutionize upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.
As shown in the agricultural and, more recently, film industries, UAS is a game-changing and disruptive innovation. UAS have provided film producers affordable access to footage never imagined and farmers the ability to monitor and predict crop health, demonstrating the ability to collect and disseminate information more efficiently and in a safer manner. UAS can be extraordinarily beneficial to the oil and gas industry as well with applications from offshore to downstream operations. UAS applications are numerous and will only continue to grow as we look ahead to the next few years.
A few examples of easily integrated oil and gas UAS solutions with a rapid return on investment include: flare stack inspections, pipeline monitoring, and 3D mapping. These three applications leverage UAS technology to collect data currently being collected by other means, but to do so at a fraction of the cost, and more importantly, in a manner that significantly reduces health, safety, and environmental (HSE) risk and exposure to a company’s most valuable resource—its people.
For example, flare stack inspections at refineries are vital to ensure safe operations and minimize downtime due to costly and potentially deadly failures. Conservative estimates place an offline refinery at a loss of $1million per day. Traditionally, flare inspections are performed by either building scaffolding or hiring a ladder truck, where workers inspect at dangerous heights. The use of UAS will not only minimize HSE risk but also takes 20-30 minutes instead of hours or days. Oil and gas companies can use the data from this quick inspection to determine the need for further repairs minimizing operational downtime and saving millions per averted shutdown. In this case, the cost avoidance from UAS usage creates an annuity-like ROI allowing that capital to be reinvested elsewhere.
One of UAS greatest strengths is local area surveillance, in this case pipeline and tank monitoring. Multispectral sensors onboard a UAS can efficiently aid in detecting corrosion, leaks, or help prevent theft from pipelines or facilities. As some of the midstream infrastructure begins to show the effects of years in service, insurance companies are focusing more on proactive pipeline monitoring. The low operational costs of UAS allow for companies to accomplish that proactive monitoring more frequently than was previously affordable or logistically possible.
The film industry has demonstrated some of the amazing capabilities UAS have in the area of aerial photography. Upstream applications of aerial and 3D mapping are not markedly different than what we are seeing in the film industry. The imagery and data acquired can be used to track, model and predict change to aid in mining or reclamation efforts. Similarly, with the ability to loiter for several hours, UAS can support reclamation efforts during emergency response situations. The outputs of 3D mapping can perform volume analysis and support planning as well. Moreover, aerial data can be synthesized with other seismic data to do gain a better understanding of geologic features. This efficient new means of collecting georeferenced imagery can allow upstream operations to more efficiently canvas larger areas in the search for new areas to explore; standing out in the competitive oil and gas landscape and effectively helping increase revenue.
Conservatively, UAS can operate at less than 5% of the fuel cost of traditional manned aircraft [NOAA]. When combined with the lower operating costs and the ability to inspect more frequently, UAS can detect leaks and spills earlier. Cost savings from early detection can be astonishing. While quantifying early detection remains somewhat difficult, the enhanced awareness from currently employed remote-sensing serves as an example of how near real-time data can detect and resolve discrepancies by providing quick access to that data. Integrating UAS with remote-sensing, SCADA, and satellite technology can further shape the picture needed to streamline operations and prevent mishaps. That awareness only comes, however, if all of this new UAS data is appropriately interpreted and communicated quickly to decision makers. While the benefits of incorporating UAS into current processes are enormous, it must be combined with data-management planning, otherwise much of the value will be wasted.
With UAS regulations becoming less restrictive, proactive posturing for UAS integration into operations is imperative. Demand of quality UAV systems and operators will quickly surpass supply, making it critical for companies to make a concerted effort to stand up UAS operations using a safe, risk-based approach. Per current regulations, most UAS operations require a pilot, or operator in the loop for operation and oversight, which may change over time. With experienced operators, the operation of UAS is relatively straightforward. Yet the logistics and associated supply chain involved in standing-up operations pose many challenges, most of which vary from country to country. Successful UAS integration will help oil and gas companies improve competitiveness for increased revenue generation, safety, situational awareness, and cost savings and avoidance. Proactively preparing for UAS integration will enable benefits of UAS usage in a safe, timely manner.
