TerraDrone has deployed drones at ConocoPhillips' operating sites in Indonesia for safety and security surveillance (Source: TerraDrone)
Terra Drone Indonesia, a group company of Terra Drone Corp. (Tokyo; www.terra-drone.net), has successfully completed a pilot project for one of the world's largest oil and gas producers, ConocoPhillips (Houston; www.conocophillips.com), in the South Sumatra province of Indonesia. Operating the Terra Bramor C4EYE and Terra Bramor ppX fixed-wings drones from Slovenia-based C-Astral Aerospace, Terra Drone Indonesia showcased the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance and security purposes to ConocoPhillips (Grissik), a unit of ConocoPhillips.
Drones are not new to ConocoPhillips, which has been using them for several years. However, the solution offered by Terra Drone Indonesia is an expansion to the utilization of drone technology, aimed at exploring applications and other benefits that can be obtained by ConocoPhillips. This solution includes forest fire monitoring, vessel traffic monitoring, pipeline monitoring, and plant enrichment mapping.
"The use of drones in the oil and gas sector can provide numerous benefits to energy producers, including time- and cost-efficiency, high-quality data results, and safer operations. For instance, aerial maps can help to identify encroachment and provide evidence for illegal activities along the ConocoPhillips pipeline easily," says Michael Wishnu Wardana, Managing Director, Terra Drone Indonesia.
Furthermore, since the drones are equipped with thermal cameras, they can be used to monitor the condition of surrounding lands while identifying points that are at high risk of fire (hotspots). The ground team can take immediate action if and when such a hotspot is identified. Additionally, in offshore areas, drones can be used to conduct vessel traffic risk analysis and reduce the potential for accidents. In case of emergencies, drones can act as first responders, relaying real-time information to the control room.