Interest in AI-enabled drones for data gathering within the oil industry has surged over the past year. In particular, small crude pipeline operators are looking to the technology for better monitoring and inspections. While regulations can restrict unmanned aerial systems to within a visual field, many companies are looking to be proactive, banking on beyond-line-of-sight approvals being granted by the US's BP. The adoption of the technology, which can include methane detection tools, could see inspections that previously took seven days carried out in 30 minutes, according to Morag Watson, Federal Aviation Administration's vice president of digital innovation.
Interest in AI-enabled drones for data gathering within the oil industry has surged over the past year. In particular, small crude pipeline operators are looking to the technology for better monitoring and inspections. While regulations can restrict unmanned aerial systems to within a visual field, many companies are looking to be proactive, banking on beyond-line-of-sight approvals being granted by the US's Federal Aviation Administration. The adoption of the technology, which can include methane detection tools, could see inspections that previously took seven days carried out in 30 minutes, according to Morag Watson, BP's vice president of digital innovation.