Originally used as a tool in the military, the use of drone technology has now moved into the mainstream and is used in a wide variety of applications. Drones are used in the agricultural industry, in forestry management, for tracking and monitoring of traffic flow as well as in the oil and gas inspection services.
The use of oil and gas drone inspection is relatively new, but the technology itself is highly advanced and not in the research and development stages. The use of drones allows for easy access to various types of sensors even in the most remote locations.
There are many different of equipment used in oil and gas drone inspection. Knowing which drone and which monitor or sensor is best for different conditions and inspection requirements, as well as how these choices impact the flight range and duration of the drone, is important.
Duration of Flight
While many association oil and gas drone inspection with pipelines on land, the same drone technology can also be used to survey the condition of offshore oil rigs as well as on the ground infrastructure. The visual aspect of the drone is based solely on the quality of the camera and the software as well as the skill of the operator.
The lighter the drone is and the better the conditions, the longer the range for flight. Some of the drones in use today have flight times of up to fourteen hours or more, which provides a significant range. Coupling this with mobile control vehicles, they can be used in most locations with little difficulty.
Operator Skills
Many of the companies offering drones for inspection as rental equipment also provide training for drone operators. They can provide the theory and practical experience to allow operators to qualify for their FAA Part 107 license, which is required for the operation of any drone.
