Drone Oil and Gas Inspection is the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, to inspect oil and gas infrastructure and assets. It is a rapidly growing technology that is transforming the way the industry conducts inspections, offering numerous advantages over traditional methods.
According to the new market research report “Drone Oil and Gas Inspection – Global Market Insights and Sales Trends 2024”, published by QYResearch, the global Drone Oil and Gas Inspection market size is projected to reach USD 8.56 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 36.6% during the forecast period.
- Global Drone Oil and Gas Inspection MarketSize(US$ Million), 2019-2030
Source: QYResearch, “Drone Oil and Gas Inspection – Global Market Insights and Sales Trends 2024”
- Global Drone Oil and Gas Inspection Top22 Players Rankingand Market Share (Ranking is based on the revenue of 2023, continually updated)
Source: QYResearch, “Drone Oil and Gas Inspection – Global Market Insights and Sales Trends 2024”
According to QYResearch Top Players Research Center, the global key manufacturers of Drone Oil and Gas Inspection include AETOS Group, Intertek, ICR Group, Volatus, Flyability, AUAV, Terra Drone, MIS Group, Landpoint, FORCE Technology, etc. In 2023, the global top 10 players had a share approximately 17.0% in terms of revenue.
Market Drivers:
Wide Scope and Capabilities:
Drones bring a wide array of applications to the table, ranging from monitoring equipment integrity to surveying vast areas of pipelines.
The versatility of drones in NDT in the oil and gas industry allows non-destructive inspection that might be challenging or time-consuming with conventional methods.
Reduce Inspection Time and Costs:
One of the standout advantages of incorporating drones into the NDT Pipeline Inspection Procedure is the significant reduction in both time and costs.
Drones can cover large expanses in a fraction of the time it would take a human inspector, leading to enhanced efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Improving Safety and Minimising Accidents:
Enhancing safety standards is a top priority in the NDT oil and gas industry, and drone inspections play a pivotal role in achieving this.
By minimising the need for human presence in hazardous environments, drones contribute to accident prevention and ensure the well-being of workers.
To Improve Facility Reliability:
Regular and thorough tubular inspection, oil and gas inspection, Non-destructive Evaluation (NDE), and other NDT techniques.
Drone inspection in the oil and gas industry is crucial for maintaining the reliability of oil and gas facilities.
Autonomous drone-based NDT inspections offer a proactive approach, identifying potential issues before they escalate and cause disruptions. Thus, in any industry, an NDT professional and NDT technician contribute to improved facility reliability.
Comprehensive, Accurate, and Reliable Inspection Data:
The data collected through drone inspections is not only comprehensive but also highly accurate and reliable.
Restraint:
Regulatory Challenges – Airspace
Drones operate in an airspace that’s governed by a myriad of regulations. In many regions, there are restrictions on flight altitudes, no-fly zones, and specific permissions required for commercial use. Ensuring compliance can be a complex and time-consuming process. Another requirement is that to operate a drone on commercial property, drone pilots must be certified by the FAA (FAA Part 107 license).
Data Management
Drones can capture massive amounts of data in a single flight. While this is an advantage, it can also lead to overwhelming amounts of information that need effective storage and analysis. Without an efficient system or platform to manage this data, crucial insights might be overlooked, or the data may simply be inaccessible to those who need it. The majority of oil and gas enterprises store their visual data in dedicated software with a centralized data warehouse (nearly 90%), while the rest still store that data on a shared drive. Unlike IoT sensor data which can be quickly analyzed to gather insights, visual data consists of individual, unique images and video, making it very time-consuming to analyze and review.
Drone Operations Training and Expertise
Operating a drone, especially in complex environments like oil and gas facilities, requires specialized skills. There’s a learning curve involved, and companies need to invest in training their personnel or hiring experienced drone pilots. As noted above, commercial drone pilots must also be certified by the FAA to ensure safe operations in accordance with local and federal regulations. For enterprises that aim to use 3D Digital Twins for conducting asset inspections or site management, these pilots require extensive training to capture the imagery in a prescribed manner to support effective photogrammetry model construction.
Technical Limitations
Despite their advanced capabilities, drones do have limitations. Battery life can restrict the duration of inspection flights, which is reduced by cold temperatures. Drones also face challenges operating in extremely windy and rainy weather conditions, limiting their operational days. Further, daytime operation is another limiting factor when collecting RGB imagery (some sensors are not limited by nighttime operations, such as thermal and LiDAR).
Integration with Existing Systems
Companies in the oil and gas sector often have legacy systems in place. Integrating drone-captured data with these existing systems can be challenging and might require additional software or platform solutions. Use of a visual data management platform such as Optelos solves this issue with open APIs which enable effective systems integrations without the use of IT personnel.
Public and Environmental Concerns
While drones are relatively less invasive, they can sometimes raise concerns related to noise, privacy, and potential disturbances to local wildlife. Ensuring that drone operations are environmentally sensitive and respectful of local communities is essential.
While drones offer transformative advantages, it’s crucial for companies to approach their adoption with a clear understanding of potential challenges. Strategic planning, continuous training, investment in the right technologies, and a commitment to ethical operations will be key in ensuring that the implementation of drone inspection programs is successful and sustainable.
Trends:
Embracing faster, safer, and proactive drone inspections undoubtedly leads to substantial cost savings in asset maintenance. Drones have the potential to save companies millions of dollars in maintenance expenses by implementing more efficient practices.
For instance, drones significantly reduce the reliance on scaffolding and other temporary structures for inspections, resulting in considerable time and budget savings. The elimination of these requirements streamlines the process and enhances cost-effectiveness.
Moreover, the ability of drones to conduct inspections without the need to shut down oil operations is a game-changer. Traditional methods often necessitate shutting off flare stacks and boiler tanks days in advance for human inspection, incurring downtime and lost profits. However, drones can swiftly and safely inspect facilities and assets without any disruption to operations, allowing oil platforms to operate continuously and optimize production time.
Drones also prove to be a cost-effective solution by minimizing labor expenses. Their rapid spot checks can reduce inspection time by up to 80%, translating to fewer working hours and requiring fewer personnel. Additionally, the need to bring in external surveyors, along with the associated travel costs, is significantly reduced.
Incorporating drones into asset maintenance strategies empowers companies to cut down on expenses while maximizing efficiency, ultimately contributing to a more financially sustainable and profitable operation.
About The Authors
Yin Hang
Lead Author
Email: yinhang@qyresearch.com
Tel: +86-18310165532
About QYResearch
QYResearch founded in California, USA in 2007.It is a leading global market research and consulting company. With over 16 years’ experience and professional research team in various cities over the world QY Research focuses on management consulting, database and seminar services, IPO consulting, industry chain research and customized research to help our clients in providing non-linear revenue model and make them successful. We are globally recognized for our expansive portfolio of services, good corporate citizenship, and our strong commitment to sustainability. Up to now, we have cooperated with more than 60,000 clients across five continents. Let’s work closely with you and build a bold and better future.
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