Latest Applications of UAVs, Drones and Robotics in the Oil and Gas Industry

Abstract Digital transformation brings substantial operational efficiency improvements in asset-heavy and capital-intensive industries like oil and gas. While digital transformation covers a wide array of technologies, this study focuses on the application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, and robotics in the oil and gas industry. These technologies can unlock tremendous value in oilfield operations. The objective of this study is to examine methods through which this value will be brought to the industry and analyze the impact of these technologies in enabling Industrial Revolution 4.0 in the upstream oil and gas industry. The literature has been thoroughly reviewed to cover the history of UAVs, drones, and robotics in the oil and gas industry along with related technologies transferred from other industries. Focus has been provided on analyzing early-stage and mature technologies and how UAVs, drones, and robotics can be implemented in the oil and gas industry technologies in a repeatable and scalable manner. In addition, real-field applications of these technologies to oil and gas fields in different parts of the world, the incremental benefits each application provides, and the challenges in implementing them are investigated in detail. The innate ability of UAVs, drones, and robotics technologies in interconnecting physical assets with digital solutions is what allows it to unlock huge amounts of value in any given oilfield application. These technologies can be used in areas with a significant risk to personnel, such as deepwater platforms. They can be used in applications that help improve environmental safety, such as methane emissions monitoring, plugging leaks in subsea pipelines, etc. The focus must be given to ensure that customized solutions are developed for each use case so that the true gains these technologies can bring, either in cost reductions, revenue maximization, or enhanced safety, are realized. These technologies can also enable oilfield assets even in remote areas to continuously operate in optimal conditions and ensure positive project economics. While there are many advantages to these technologies, their challenges, such as cybersecurity issues and its impact of physical security of critical assets, are addressed in this study. UAVs, drones and robotics are widely known concepts across the industry, and there are multiple examples of specific use cases of such technologies in the literature. However, there still is a lack of clarity on the specific use-cases, benefits, and potential of such technologies amongst industry professionals. This study bridges the gap by providing a concise overview of these technologies enabling the fourth industrial revolution, including their history, application areas, successful use cases, and future potential.