Oil major Chevron has announced that it has started using uncrewed aircraft systems (UASs) to monitor its huge pipeline network, after being one of the first companies to be given the necessary authorisation.
Pipelines play a vital role in transporting oil and gas quickly and efficiently, but they need to be constantly monitored to identify any hazards that could endanger those working around the pipelines and the wider community. This could involve someone blocking access to, or digging near, a pipeline.
This would normally be achieved with light aircraft, where one person flies the plane while another person looks out of the window.
Chevron, which also makes the Texaco industrial lubricant and coolant products, says that using a UAS offers advantages over crewed aircraft, which tend to work best on shorter distances. With an 8-hour flight time, a single UAS flight can cover a much larger area.
Flights are planned in advance and generally automated, but they are also monitored by ground-based operators who can make decisions about potential hazards and take control of the aircraft if necessary.
The manager for the UAS project at Chevron, Roy Martinez, said about the technology:
“A UAS can give us an accurate, documented view of our pipeline. It allows us to gather data on hazard identification along the path of the pipeline, and provides the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and industry with more information on what it’s like to employ this technology.”
The UAS could also have applications beyond just monitoring pipelines and facilities, such as performing ecological surveys, detecting leaks and spills and responding to natural disasters.
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